Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned President Donald Trump that renewed U.S. military action could open a “new battlefield,” as tensions escalated following American strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island even as Washington and Tehran continued indirect negotiations.
Iran Warns Washington Against Renewed Military Strikes
Addressing Iran’s parliament Tuesday, Ghalibaf said Tehran had “delivered a firm and rational response to the American side. The ball is now in America’s court to prevent war.” He warned that another American “strategic miscalculation” could leave Washington facing a new battlefield and struggling to find a way out. He did not specify Iran’s response.
Ghalibaf said Iranian forces remained ready “for battle with its finger on the trigger,” despite continuing diplomatic efforts. His warning followed American strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island, where a U.S. official said American forces carried out defensive strikes against Iranian forces using surface-to-air missiles against U.S. assets.
Trump confirmed the operation Tuesday during a telephone interview with Fox News, calling it a “minor attack.” He said Washington had monitored the construction of an Iranian anti-aircraft facility for approximately two months before striking it. Reuters separately reported that American officials described the operation as defensive rather than a resumption of major combat operations.
Tehran Demands Concessions Before Reopening Hormuz
The confrontation comes as Qatar mediates indirect negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has demanded that Washington lift its naval blockade, ease oil sanctions and release frozen assets before negotiations advance.
Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei previously criticized Washington’s response to Tehran’s seven conditions. Iran also wants a ceasefire covering Lebanon, while U.S. negotiators seek restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear activities.
Vance Signals Optimism Despite Military Tensions
Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about reaching an agreement Monday, despite earlier warnings that Iran must demonstrate meaningful nuclear concessions.
Trump has similarly suggested a diplomatic breakthrough remains possible, even as Washington keeps further military action on the table. In a Tuesday night interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump acknowledged that the Iran war and surging fuel prices contributed to Republicans losing both congressional chambers, saying, “Iran was a piece of it.”
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock/ Below the Sky
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