Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Sunday, as reported by the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, that a U.S. attack on Iran would escalate into a regional conflict.
اضافة اعلان
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Saturday that Tehran, which he had threatened with military action, is now “talking” to Washington, while Iranian President Masoud Bezhikian emphasized that war would not serve the interests of either side or the broader Middle East, amid intensive diplomatic efforts to defuse tensions.
Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, described progress toward negotiations with the U.S., hosting Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Tehran and meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
In parallel, Iranian Army Commander Amir Hatami warned the U.S. and Israel against launching any attack, stating that Iranian forces remain on high alert in response to American military reinforcements in the Gulf region.
The U.S. military build-up has raised concerns among regional states about the potential for war, which could worsen the situation across the Middle East. Trump has threatened military action against Iran for weeks in response to the regime’s crackdown on protests that have resulted in thousands of deaths.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said Tehran “is talking to us, and we’ll see if we can do something, otherwise we’ll see what happens”, reiterating that the U.S. has a large fleet moving toward the region. He added, “They are negotiating,” noting that Washington has not shared specific strike plans with regional allies.
On Friday, Trump said he expects Iran to pursue negotiations on its nuclear and missile programs rather than face U.S. military action.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said from Turkey that Tehran is ready for nuclear negotiations “if fair and equitable”, but emphasized that Iran’s missile and defense capabilities are non-negotiable.
Diplomatic communications and visits between Iran and U.S.-linked parties have intensified in recent days. Bezhikian told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that Tehran “has never and will never seek war”, reaffirming that war is not in Iran’s, the U.S.’s, or the region’s interest, according to the Iranian presidency.
On Saturday, Qatar’s Foreign Minister visited Iran, continuing a channel of communication previously used to relay messages between Washington and Tehran. Doha stated that Sheikh Mohammed highlighted ongoing efforts to reduce tensions and reaffirmed support for peaceful solutions to enhance regional security and stability.
Earlier Saturday, Larijani noted that, contrary to media-created impressions, the framework for negotiations is progressing.
(Reuters + AFP)
