Abbas Araghchi Warns Donald Trump Not to Continue the Level of Tension

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arghchi. (Source: IRNA)

JAKARTA - Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Saturday accused US President Donald Trump of misinterpreting President Masoud Pezeshkian's readiness to ease tensions in the region.

He warned that Iran was ready to face the US if that was what Trump wanted. "If Trump wants escalation, that is exactly what our powerful Armed Forces have long prepared for, and that is what he will get," Araghchi said in a statement on X.

"The responsibility for any escalation of Iran's defensive measures lies entirely with the US government," he added.

Previously, Iranian President Pezeshkian said Iran would not attack neighboring countries unless they allowed their territory to be used to attack Iran, Araghchi said.

Trump said a major attack would be launched against Iran on Saturday, and threatened "total destruction" of the region and groups of people who had not previously been considered targets.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned on Saturday that the Middle East would never be at peace as long as it hosted US military bases.

"The defense policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is consistent, based on the guidelines of our Imam who fell as a martyr. As long as the presence of US bases in the region continues, these countries will not enjoy peace," he said on X.

Iran has attacked Israeli territory and US military targets in the Middle East in response to a joint military operation launched by the United States and Israel on February 28.

The first day of the military action saw the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a girls' school in southern Iran bombed.

Iran estimates the death toll to be more than 1,200.