Mohammad Qalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, has warned that Iran would retaliate against US bases in the region if the United States acts on its threat of military action amid tensions over the nuclear deal.
Qalibaf issued this statement during his live address marking Al-Quds Day, an annual event observed on the last Friday of Ramadan.
Earlier this month, former US President Donald Trump confirmed that he had sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, outlining two possible outcomes for Iran: either military action or reaching a new agreement.
“If the Americans attack the sanctity of Iran, the entire region will blow up like a spark in an ammunition dump. Their bases and those of their allies will not be safe,” Qalibaf said.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei described Trump’s communication as deceptive, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi dismissed any prospects for talks unless the US changes its policy of maximum pressure.
Araqchi noted that Tehran had evaluated Trump’s letter thoroughly and had already sent a reply via Oman.
He further stated on Friday, without additional details, that although Trump’s message included threats, it also hinted at the possibility of diplomacy.
During Trump’s presidency from 2017 to 2021, he withdrew the US from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal, which had limited Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for easing economic sanctions. Following the US withdrawal and reinstatement of sanctions, Iran began to exceed uranium enrichment limits established by the agreement.
Western countries have repeatedly alleged that Iran’s nuclear activities are secretly aimed at developing nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies, insisting its nuclear program is solely for civilian energy purposes.
