TEHRAN : Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian says as a precondition to any negotiation, the United States must first eliminate all economic pressure, threats, and sanctions, adding it “does not trust America”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says both he and President Trump are “committed to completing the elimination of the Iranian regime” and recently “discussed this”.
Several tankers are ablaze after hitting sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says. US CENTCOM called the claim “incorrect”.
The United Kingdom says it will deploy Typhoon fighter jets to help protect Saudi Arabia from attacks by Yemen’s Houthis.
Iran’s army chief warns of major response to any new attack
Iran’s armed forces chief of staff has warned that any renewed attack on the country will meet a “more forceful response”.
During a visit on Tuesday to a military facility, Major-General Ali Abdollahi hailed Iran’s expansion of its drone production capabilities, Press TV reported.
“What I saw today at one of the many drone production facilities developed through the efforts of my colleagues in the Islamic Republic of Iran Army reflects the readiness, motivation and innovative capabilities” of Iran’s forces, he said.
Abdollahi said equipment developed and upgraded by Iranian specialists is more advanced than earlier models.
Lessons from recent wars with the US and Israel have left Iran “better equipped” to respond to future attacks, and Tehran’s “determination to resist had not weakened”, he added.
Rubio says reaching peace deal with Iran extremely difficult
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told CNBC that reaching an agreement with Iran is extremely difficult and Washington will continue to exert economic pressure until it stops targeting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Rubio said the transit of ships transporting oil through the strait is above 80 percent compared with pre-war levels, something Iran has repeatedly denied.
The secretary of state expressed concern about Iran’s attacks on the crucial waterway, and said Tehran must put an end to the bombardment. AlJazeera ,AFP pihoto
