Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said Monday that Tehran is prepared for a military confrontation, declaring in an interview with Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen TV that “Iran is ready for any war.”
Shamkhani warned that a US attack on Iran would automatically expand the conflict to include Israel, arguing that the two countries act in concert. “Israel and America are not two different elements. They are one entity. Our response to Israel is inevitable and is tied to their actions and steps,” he said.
Turning to the prospect of renewed diplomatic engagement, Shamkhani said Iran is open only to direct talks with Washington, dismissing any European role. He said Tehran is ready for “practical negotiations with Washington and no one else, as Europe has proven its inability to do anything,” adding that any discussions would be limited strictly to the nuclear file.
He emphasized that Iran has no intention of exporting uranium enriched to high levels and rejected international demands to do so. “There is no reason to transfer the stored materials outside Iran. There is no need for all these complicated procedures. Our program is peaceful, our capabilities are domestic, and the 60% enrichment level can be reduced to 20%, but they must pay a cost,” Shamkhani said.
According to Shamkhani, Iran’s core positions in negotiations remain unchanged from earlier rounds. “In the previous rounds [of talks], we had three no’s: we do not seek a nuclear weapon, we will not go to produce it, and we will not store it, and they must offer a price for that,” he said.
His remarks come amid reports that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are scheduled to meet Friday in Istanbul to explore the possibility of a renewed nuclear agreement.
US President Donald Trump has urged Iran to strike a deal with Washington over its nuclear program, while also signaling that military action remains an option if diplomacy fails.
Speaking with reporters on Sunday, Trump addressed recent warnings from Iran’s supreme leader, who cautioned that if “they start a war, this time it will be a regional war.”
“We have the biggest, most powerful ships in the world over there… hopefully, we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, then we’ll find out whether or not he was right,” Trump said.
Trump also said Saturday night that Iran is “seriously talking” with the United States, adding that he hopes Tehran ultimately agrees to a deal that involves abandoning its nuclear weapons ambitions.
{Matzav.com}
