During his speech, Trump said preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was essential to US national security. Questioning whether military action against Iran had been the right decision, he argued that Iran must not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons because it could use them.
Iran Calls for an End to Fighting on All Fronts
Meanwhile, Iran has stressed the need to end hostilities on all fronts to establish lasting peace in the region. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh warned that continued fighting in any part of the region could prolong the wider conflict.
According to Iranian state news agency IRNA, Khatibzadeh also emphasised the need to end Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon. He said the Lebanon issue had been among the key subjects discussed during negotiations between Iran and the United States.
Khatibzadeh arrived in Beirut, the Lebanese capital, on Wednesday, where he held discussions with local leaders. He described his meetings with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and representatives of the Foreign Ministry as positive. He maintained that developments in Lebanon and the wider Levant region were interconnected and stressed the importance of ending the fighting there.
Iran Accuses US and Israel of Violating Agreement
The Iranian deputy foreign minister accused the United States and Israel of violating the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding by carrying out attacks against Iran and Lebanon.
He said US efforts to secure an end to the war in Lebanon and ensure a ceasefire had failed. Khatibzadeh also argued that Israel would not honour its commitments and said the responsibility for restraining Israel rested with the United States. However, these allegations and claims concerning the agreement require independent verification.
Iran Vows to Defend Its Sovereignty
The Iranian official described the US military campaign as illegal under international law. He claimed that Washington had failed to completely destroy Iran’s air defence system or eliminate its capacity to launch retaliatory attacks.
Khatibzadeh said Iran was fighting for its existence and would continue to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also stated that Tehran was prepared to respond to questions raised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United States regarding its peaceful nuclear programme.
In support of Iran’s position on compliance with its nuclear commitments, he cited more than 15 reports issued by the agency.
Iran Offers to Reopen Strait of Hormuz Within Seven Days
Iran has also offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. Tehran said it did not want war but would not accept any conflict imposed upon it and would resist such aggression.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global oil supplies. Any tensions affecting this passage could have implications for international oil markets and petrol and diesel prices.
Against this backdrop, Trump’s prediction that the war would end soon and US petrol prices would fall sharply carries significance for energy markets. However, the extent of any price decline will depend on how the conflict develops and whether hostilities come to an end.
Despite Trump’s claim that the war would conclude soon, lasting peace in the region will depend on whether the United States, Iran and Israel halt military operations and resolve their disputes through negotiations. The competing positions over military action, Lebanon, nuclear activities and the Strait of Hormuz remain central to the prospects for ending the conflict.
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