Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned today that the country’s armed forces are in full readiness to respond to any American attack, emphasizing that the military is “with a finger on the trigger.” However, he did not rule out the possibility of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.
“At the same time, Iran has always viewed a fair and mutually beneficial nuclear agreement positively, under conditions of equality, without pressure, threats, or blackmail. Such an agreement would guarantee Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology while ensuring a complete absence of nuclear weapons,” Araqchi wrote in a post on the X platform.
Earlier in the day, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that in the event of any American military action against Tehran, Iran would target the U.S., Israel, and their allies.
This statement from Ali Shamkhani came after U.S. President Donald Trump called on Iran to come to the negotiation table and “reach a deal” on its nuclear program, warning that any future American attack would be significantly harsher.
Meanwhile, U.S. military presence in the Middle East has increased substantially. With the arrival of an aircraft carrier and its accompanying ships, the number of U.S. warships in the region has risen to ten, giving Trump a significant firepower advantage should he decide to strike Iran.
According to a U.S. official, the forces currently in the region include the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, three escort destroyers, F-35C fighter jets, and six additional warships previously stationed there.
Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with military action over its crackdown on anti-government protests but later signaled a shift in stance, noting that Tehran had stopped executing protesters.
