Iran has said it will not succumb to threats and is prepared for both war and negotiations, amid rising tensions with the United States and increased military deployments in the region.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said that the success of diplomacy with Washington depends on an end to what he described as threatening behavior. He pointed to heavy US military deployments in the Gulf as a major obstacle to meaningful talks.
President Pezeshkian stressed that Iran has no objection to negotiations but made it clear that talks cannot take place under pressure or intimidation.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he believes Iran wants to negotiate to avoid military action. Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump said a large US naval fleet is moving toward Iran, describing it as even bigger than the one previously sent toward Venezuela.
“We have a big naval force heading toward Iran. Hopefully, we can reach a deal. If we do, that’s good. If not, we’ll see what happens,” Trump said, adding that Iran has been given a deadline to reach an agreement on its nuclear program, ballistic missiles, and other issues.
During a visit to Türkiye, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no meeting between Iranian and US officials has been scheduled. However, he reiterated that Iran is ready for fair negotiations conducted on an equal footing and remains in close contact with Türkiye on the issue.
Iran’s armed forces spokesperson warned that the US naval fleet is within range of Iranian missiles, adding that American military bases and installations across the region are also within Iran’s strike capability.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged the United States to refrain from attacking Iran under Israeli pressure, warning that further escalation could destabilize the region.
The US, meanwhile, has announced new sanctions on several Iranian officials, including Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, according to a statement from the US Treasury Department.
Addressing a joint press conference in Istanbul, Araghchi said Iran is more alert than during the previous 12-day conflict and warned that any new war, particularly with direct US involvement, could escalate beyond a bilateral confrontation. According to BBC Persian, he added that Iran will not only maintain its military capabilities “as much as necessary” but will further expand them if required.
In a further escalation, Iran has announced that it considers the armed forces of certain European countries to be terrorist entities, underscoring the deepening rift between Tehran and Western powers.
