Iran powerful parliament speaker on Wednesday warned Washington not to test the Islamic republic’s determination to defend its territory after the United States was reported to be sending more troops to the Middle East.
“We are closely monitoring all US movements in the region, especially troop deployments. What the generals have broke, the soldiers can’t fix; instead, they will fall victim to (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s delusions,” said Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in an X post in English.
“Do not test our resolve to defend our land.”
Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan on Wednesday also said there had been no talks between Washington or Tehran, after US President Donald Trump signaled tentative progress in diplomatic efforts to end the war.
“We have also heard such details through the media, but according to my information — and contrary to Trump’s claims — so far no negotiations, direct or indirect, have taken place between the two countries,” said ambassador Reza Amiri Moghadam, adding that it was “natural that friendly countries are always engaged in consultations with both sides to end this illegitimate aggression”.
Iran targeted countries across the Middle East with a fresh volley of missiles Wednesday, hours after US President Donald Trump signaled tentative progress in diplomatic efforts to end the war.
Also Read: Iran dismisses Trump bait, launch missiles on Tel Aviv
The conflict that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran has mushroomed throughout the Middle East, sending world energy markets into tailspin.
The US president, whose daily statements on the war have swung wildly from threatening to conciliatory, said Washington was “in negotiations right now” with Tehran.
He told reporters in the Oval Office that Iran had given him “a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money”, which he said demonstrated that “we’re dealing with the right people”.
Trump did not elaborate further but said it related to the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely blockaded in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes, sending global energy prices soaring.
Several media reported Trump had sent a 15-point plan to Iran via Pakistan, which has offered to mediate a possible end to the war.
Trump’s cryptic statements on his eagerness to talk with Iran included repeating a claim that Tehran has “agreed they will never have a nuclear weapon”.
Vanguard
