Pezeshkian faults Washington for truce end as Iran warns of response
Tehran blames the US for ending the interim war pact, while military leaders threaten that limited strikes will trigger a major counterattack.
By Natalia Campos ·
Iran’s president placed the blame for the failed truce squarely on the United States.
In a broadcast by Press TV on Saturday, Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Washington caused the unravelling of the interim deal designed to stop the war with the US and Israel. Despite the failure, he argued that both nations should return to the agreement to finish the process.
Tensions have risen after Donald Trump said on Friday that he might launch another operation under the codename Epic Fury. That name refers to the conflict that began on February 28. The threat suggests military action could resume as early as this weekend.
Iranian military leaders responded with strong warnings. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told Fars News Agency that any limited US strike would provoke a reaction several times larger. Ali Abdollahi, the chief of staff for the armed forces, declared that the US military would never enter the Gulf. He told Trump he could only dream of such a move and would take that dream to the grave.
Political clocks are ticking for both sides. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains committed to toppling the Iranian government. Israelis go to the polls on Tuesday to choose their next government. In the US, the Republican Party faces midterms on November 3. Democrats could take control of the House and Senate, a result that would be a major setback for Trump.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani wrote in a memo that Tehran does not need permission to defend itself. She said the country seeks peace but will respond to aggression with severe consequences. She added that those hoping to destroy Iran must fix their calculations.
Behind the scenes, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei met with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. They discussed corruption and compensation for war victims. Khamenei, who replaced his assassinated father in early March, has not appeared in public since taking office. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also met with Khamenei earlier this week.
Source: Al Jazeera
