US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was confident of achieving a deal with Iran after the country’s supreme leader warned that any US strike on the Islamic republic would unleash a regional conflict.
Following the Iranian authorities’ fatal response to anti-government protests that peaked last month, Trump has threatened military action and ordered the mobilization of an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the top leader of Iran, warned on Sunday that a US invasion would spark a widespread battle and compared the recent rallies to a “coup.”
Iranians “should not be scared” of Trump’s statements, he said, adding that “the Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war.”
“They (rioters) burned the Koran and attacked government buildings, banks, mosques, police, and IRGC centers. Khamenei remarked, “It was like a coup, but the coup was suppressed.”
Asked about the Iranian leader’s warning, Trump told reporters on Sunday: “Of course he is going to say that.
“Hopefully, we can reach an agreement. We’ll find out if he was correct if we don’t reach an agreement,” he stated.
The demonstrations in Iran began as an expression of unhappiness at the high expense of living, but evolved into a huge anti-government movement that the country’s leaders have labeled as “riots” fostered by the United States and Israel.
Despite Washington’s warning that 26-year-old protester Erfan Soltani was on death row and threatening an attack if any anti-government protestors were put to death, Iranian officials approved his release on bail, according to Soltani’s attorney on Sunday.
He was jailed in January for what Iran’s judiciary said were charges of propaganda against Iran’s Islamic regime and working against national security.
Tehran said he had never received a death sentence and that the charges against him did not include the capital penalty, despite Washington’s warning that he was going to be put to death.
Tehran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Sunday that while he was worried about “miscalculations,” he thought Trump was “wise enough to make the correct decision” as tensions between Iran and the US increased.
He claimed that Iran no longer trusted the United States as a negotiating partner and that certain nations in the area were serving as go-betweens to restore confidence.
In an interview with CNN, he stated, “I see the possibility of another talk if the US negotiation team follows what President Trump said: to come to a fair and equitable deal to ensure that there are no nuclear weapons.”
“Terrorist” designations: The presidency released a list of 2,986 names out of the 3,117 that police claimed were murdered in the turmoil on Sunday. Tehran has confirmed thousands of deaths throughout the rallies.
According to a statement, 131 of the total have not yet been recognized, but their information will be made public shortly.
Authorities insist majority were members of the security forces and innocent onlookers, blaming the violence to “terrorist acts”.
However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency says it has recorded 6,842 deaths, largely demonstrators.
Iranian parliamentarians retaliated on Sunday by designating European militaries as terrorists in reaction to the European Union’s listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
State television footage showed lawmakers chanting “Death to America,” “Death to Israel,” and “Shame on you, Europe” while donning the green uniform of the Guards as a show of solidarity during the legislative session.
It remained unclear what immediate impact the judgment would have.
The step matched comparable classifications implemented by Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Threats and conversation: 43-year-old homemaker Firouzeh, who did not want to reveal her full name, claimed that the recent tensions had made her “very worried and scared.”
“I just watch the news until I go to sleep these days. Sometimes I get up in the middle of the night to check the updates,” she said.
The Mehr news agency cited IRGC officer Ahmad Vahidi as saying that “enemies” attempted to foster a “war atmosphere.”
But Ali Larijani, president of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, stated on Saturday: “Contrary to the hype of the contrived media war, structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing.”
Trump added, “We’ll see what happens,” while confirming that talks were underway without retracting his prior warnings.
In the past, the US president expressed his belief that Iran will reach an agreement over its nuclear and missile programs instead of being subjected to military action.
In the meantime, Tehran has stated that if its missile and defense capabilities are not on the agenda, it is prepared for nuclear negotiations.
