Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said on March 12 that US threats were "unwise" after US President Donald Trump warned of possible military action if Tehran refused to negotiate.
"The US is threatening military action. In my opinion, this threat is unwise. Iran is capable of retaliation and will certainly strike," Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei said during a meeting with students in Tehran on March 12, according to AFP.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei meets with Iranian students in Tehran on March 12.
Khamenei made the statement as Iranian media reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had received a letter from President Trump, delivered through senior United Arab Emirates (UAE) official Anwar Gargash.
President Trump said on March 7 that he had written to Iran's supreme leader, urging new talks on Iran's nuclear program but warning of possible military action if Tehran refused.
Khamenei said he had not yet personally received the letter, but argued that the US invitation to talks was intended to "deceive world opinion" by showing that Washington was willing to negotiate while Tehran was unwilling.
"We sat down and negotiated for years, but this person threw away an agreement that had been completed and signed, and tore it up," Khamenei added, referring to Washington's withdrawal from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal during Trump's first term.
Iran is researching faster ways to create nuclear bombs.
Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has called for a new nuclear deal with Tehran while reinstating his "maximum pressure" sanctions policy, fearing Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran denies the allegations.
Iran has officially ruled out direct talks until the US lifts sanctions, and Khamenei said on March 12 that talks with the US "will not lift sanctions... and will make the sanctions even tighter," according to AFP.
"If we wanted to build nuclear weapons, the US couldn't stop us. The fact that we don't have nuclear weapons and aren't seeking them is because we ourselves don't want them," Khamenei said.
Khamenei, who has the final say in state affairs, stressed that Iran "does not want war, but if either side acts, we will respond decisively and resolutely."
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/lanh-tu-toi-cao-iran-ra-tuyen-bo-ran-sau-canh-bao-tu-tong-thong-trump-185250313081703657.htm
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