Iran’s conditional openness to de-escalation was killed by Trump: Foreign Minister AraghchiMIDDLE EAST MONITORING DESK ISLAMABAD
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says President Masoud Pezeshkian’s conditional openness to de-escalation within the region has been “killed” by US President Donald Trump’s misinterpretation of Iran’s capabilities and intent.
“President Pezeshkian expressed openness to de-escalation within our region, provided that our neighbors’ airspace, territory, and waters are not used to attack the Iranian people. The gesture to our neighbors was almost immediately killed by President Trump,” Araghchi said on Saturday on his X account.
Earlier in the day, President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised address that no Iranian attack would be carried out on neighboring countries as long as no assault is conducted against Iran from those countries. He also called for diplomacy and interaction with neighboring countries to resolve issues.
Following Pezeshkian’s remarks, Trump doubled down on his rhetoric against Iran and threatened escalation against the country.
“President Pezeshkian’s openness to de-escalation within our region, provided that our neighbors’ airspace, territory, and waters are not used to attack the Iranian people, was almost immediately killed by President Trump’s misinterpretation of our capabilities, determination, and intent,” Foreign Minister Araghchi said in a statement that he combined with his X post.
The full text of Araghchi’s statement is as follow:
President Pezeshkian’s openness to de-escalation within our region, provided that our neighbors’ airspace, territory, and waters are not used to attack the Iranian People, was almost immediately killed by President Trump’s misinterpretation of our capabilities, determination and intent.
If Mr. Trump seeks escalation, it is precisely what our Powerful Armed Forces have long been prepared for, and what he will get. Responsibility for any intensification of Iran’s exercise of self- defense will lie squarely with the US Administration.
Mr. Trump’s week-long misadventure has already cost the US military $100 billion, in addition to the lives of young soldiers. When markets reopen, that cost will balloon and directly be transferred to ordinary Americans at pumping stations.
Mr. Trump’s own National Intelligence Council, representing input from the 18 intelligence agencies of the US, determined that war on Iran is destined to fail. I also warned Mr. Trump’s envoys that war will not improve their bargaining position. Were these warnings conveyed?
The American People voted to end involvement in costly quagmires in the Middle East. Instead, they have ended up with an Administration that Netanyahu, after decades of failed attempts, finally managed to dupe into fighting Israel’s wars.
This is a war of choice pursued by a small cabal of ‘Israel Firsters’, and ‘Israel First’ always means ‘America Last.’
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the response to the targeting of innocent civilians will be directed at the US’ bases and facilities.
Iran and its Arab brothers have lived alongside each other for centuries in an atmosphere filled with cordiality, friendship, and mutual respect, Araghchi wrote in a X post in Arabic on Saturday.
American aggressors target innocent children and civilians from the lands of our Arab friends; but Iran’s response will undoubtedly be directed at the US’ bases and facilities, he added.
Meanwhile, President Masoud Pezeshkian described neighboring countries as “our brothers,” saying differences with them should be resolved through diplomacy.
“We have no intention of military aggression against neighboring countries, and as we have said many times before, they are our brothers, and we must join hands with these dear neighbors in the region to bring peace and stability,” he stated.
