Tehran criticizes Washington’s ‘excessive demands’ and warns of military response if the Trump administration decides to resume hostilities
Iran accused this Saturday (23) the United States of sabotage negotiations to end the war with “excessive demands”, amid speculation about a resumption of hostilities.
A change in the schedule of American President Donald Trump, who announced that he would not attend his son’s wedding due to “matters of state”, further fueled these fears.
In Tehran, Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned of a “devastating” response if US President Donald Trump “commits another act of madness and restarts the war”.
“If they attack Iran again, [o resultado] it will certainly be more devastating and bitter for the United States than the first day of the war,” Ghalibaf, who also presides over the Iranian Parliament, posted on social media.
Ghalibaf made these statements after meet with Pakistani Army Chief of StaffThus Munir, a key figure in international efforts to reach a negotiated solution to the conflict, which (22).
In conversation with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi complained about Washington’s “contradictory positions and repeated excessive demands”, according to the Tasnim and Fars news agencies.
These factors “disturb the negotiation process conducted under Pakistani mediation,” said the Iranian minister.
“Despite its deep distrust of the United States, the Islamic Republic of Iran has participated in the diplomatic process with a responsible approach and utmost seriousness, seeking to achieve a reasonable and equitable outcome,” he added.
According to the Iranian news agency IRNA, the head of the Pakistani army, who has played a prominent role in the rapprochement efforts, spoke with Araghchi until the early hours of Friday to Saturday about the “latest efforts and diplomatic initiatives aimed at avoiding further escalation”.
‘Deep’ disagreements
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei had already warned that differences with Washington remain “deep”.
Issues relating to the end of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the American blockade of Iranian ports remain, according to him, “unresolved”, just as the nuclear issue.
Qatar, which was severely affected by the war started by the United States and Israel on February 28, and other countries in the region are simultaneously intensifying alternative mediation efforts. Tehran confirmed the visit of a monarchy delegation on Friday.
On the other hand, American press outlets reported that Washington is considering new attacks on Tehran.
According to CBS News, US military personnel are preparing for possible bombings during the weekend or on Monday (25th), which is a holiday in the United States.
On Friday, Trump gathered his advisers to discuss the war, the website Axios added.
The Republican tycoon even announced that he would not be able to attend his son Don Jr.’s wedding and that he would have to remain in Washington instead of going to one of his golf courses, for “reasons related to matters of State”.
However, he declared in a speech near New York that Iranian leaders “are desperate to reach a deal.”
Since the April 8 ceasefire, after more than a month of conflict, only one round of negotiations took place in Islamabad on April 11 between US and Iranian representatives, without success.
