Iran has declared itself fully prepared for war under any circumstances, responding strongly to US President Donald Trump’s threat of military intervention. The country’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was capable of a befitting response if Washington wanted to “test” Iran again.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic on Monday, Araghchi said Iran’s military preparedness is now more extensive and stronger than ever, having learned from the experience of last year’s 12-day conflict. He said the US has failed militarily in the past and Iran is ready to counter it if it makes the same mistake again.
Tehran’s warning came after Trump hinted at military action in response to the country’s tough stance on anti-government protests. While Trump talked about talks on the nuclear issue, he also threatened major attacks if the crackdown on protests continued.
Araghchi said that despite the current tensions, diplomatic channels with the United States have remained open. However, he alleged that the United States and Israel are involved in fomenting unrest inside Iran and that some parties are trying to drag Washington into a war in Israel’s interests.
The protests, which began on December 28 over rising living costs and inflation, quickly escalated into anti-government protests that have now escalated into a bitter cold war between Tehran and Washington. Araghchi warned that foreign intervention could ignite a fire that could engulf the entire region.
According to international analysts, any attempted surprise operation in Iran could trigger a major regional conflict. As a result, global politics is focused on the Trump administration’s next steps and Tehran’s defense strategy.