Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Monday that Tehran is studying the details of various diplomatic pathways to address tensions with the United States, adding that Iran hopes to reach results in the coming days.
اضافة اعلان
On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope for reaching an agreement with Iran after Iranian President Ali Khamenei warned that any attack on Iran would lead to the outbreak of a regional war.
Trump has threatened military action against Tehran for weeks over the crackdown on protests, which resulted in the deaths of thousands. Washington has reinforced its forces in the Middle East and deployed the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln to the region.
The military buildup has raised concerns among regional countries about the outbreak of a war that would further destabilize the region, prompting several of them to engage in mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran.
In a strongly worded warning, Khamenei said, “Americans must realize that if they start a war, it will be a regional war.”
Khamenei, who has led Iran since 1989 and holds the final say on major policy decisions, added: “We are not among those who start wars… nor do we seek to attack any country. However, in the face of anyone who contemplates launching an attack or causing harm, the Iranian people will deliver a decisive blow.”
Asked by reporters about Khamenei’s warning, Trump replied, “Of course he would say that.” He added, “We hope to reach an agreement. If we don’t reach an agreement, then we’ll find out whether he was right or not.”
The United States had previously bombed Iran during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025. In recent days, Iranian officials have warned of an immediate and strong response to any military action against Tehran.
The current escalation in tensions comes in the wake of widespread protests that began in Iran in late December 2025. The authorities responded with a violent crackdown that resulted in the deaths of thousands.
Khamenei described the wave of protests—which began over economic demands and gradually took on a political character—as akin to an attempted “coup.”
Speaking during a meeting at his headquarters in the Iranian capital, broadcast on state television, Khamenei said the protesters “attacked the police, government buildings, Revolutionary Guard barracks, banks, and mosques, and burned copies of the Quran (…) It was a real coup,” adding that the attempt “failed.”
He further stated: “That was not the first sedition in Tehran, and it will not be the last. Such incidents may recur.”
Reuters + AFP
