CAIRO, Feb 7 (Reuters) – Iran will strike U.S. bases within the Center East whether it is attacked by U.S. forces which have massed within the area, its international minister stated on Saturday, insisting that this shouldn’t be seen as an assault on the nations internet hosting them.
Overseas Minister Abbas Araqchi spoke to Qatari Al Jazeera TV a day after Tehran and Washington pledged to proceed oblique nuclear talks following what each side described as positive discussions on Friday in Oman.
Whereas Araqchi stated no date had but been set for the subsequent spherical of negotiations, U.S. President Donald Trump stated they may happen early subsequent week. “We and Washington consider it ought to be held quickly,” Araqchi stated.
Trump has threatened to strike Iran after a U.S. naval buildup within the area, demanding that it surrender uranium enrichment, a potential pathway to nuclear bombs, in addition to stopping ballistic missile improvement and assist for armed teams across the area. Tehran has lengthy denied any intent to weaponise nuclear gasoline manufacturing.
Whereas each side have indicated readiness to revive diplomacy over Tehran’s long-running nuclear dispute with the West, Araqchi balked at widening the talks out.
NurPhoto through Getty Pictures
“Any dialogue requires refraining from threats and strain. (Tehran) solely discusses its nuclear concern … We don’t talk about every other concern with the U.S.,” he stated.
Final June, the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear amenities, becoming a member of within the remaining phases of a 12-day Israeli bombing marketing campaign. Tehran has since stated it has halted uranium enrichment exercise.
Its response on the time included a missile assault on a U.S. base in Qatar, which maintains good relations with each Tehran and Washington.
Within the occasion of a brand new U.S. assault, Araqchi stated the implications may very well be comparable.
“It will not be potential to assault American soil, however we are going to goal their bases within the area,” he stated.
“We is not going to assault neighbouring nations; moderately, we are going to goal U.S. bases stationed in them. There’s a large distinction between the 2.”
Iran says it needs recognition of its proper to complement uranium, and that placing its missile programme on the negotiating desk would go away it weak to Israeli assaults.
(Reporting by Jaidaa Taha and Enas Alashry; Modifying by Kevin Liffey)
