Tehran: As hopes dwindle for a potential agreement to end the war between the US and Iran, Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said the country is fully prepared to counter any potential aggression. She said at a press conference on Tuesday: "Our fingers are on the trigger, however our focus is still on sustainable peace." The spokesperson further stated that Iranian authorities are committed to a diplomatic path and solution based on national and public interests, as reported by Iranian news agency ISNA.
Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf had earlier warned that the armed forces are fully prepared to respond to any aggression. He wrote on social media platform "X" that wrong strategies and wrong decisions always lead to wrong results, which the world has come to realize. He further said: "We are open to all options... and they will be surprised."
This statement came as US President Donald Trump said the previous day that Iran's response to the US proposal was very negative. He also hinted that the ceasefire agreement, which came into effect on April 8, is in a "very delicate situation", increasing the likelihood of war again. On the other hand, according to US officials, Trump is now more seriously considering resuming military action, as reported by CNN.
The officials further stated that Trump is also frustrated that Iran continues to block the Strait of Hormuz, and he sees internal divisions within Iran's leadership that are hindering progress in nuclear talks. Meanwhile, Pakistan, which is playing a mediating role, continues to make efforts to bring the two sides closer and reach an agreement to end the war.
The main point of contention is currently Iran's nuclear program, where the US wants Iran to transfer its enriched uranium abroad and completely halt enrichment domestically, while Tehran's stance is that these matters should be discussed at a later stage.
