Iran called for renewed talks on a temporary pact to end its war with the United States and Israel, while senior officials warned that any new strikes would draw a more forceful response.
President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed Washington for the agreement’s breakdown in remarks broadcast Saturday by Iranian Press TV. He urged both sides to return to the pact and complete it.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened a reply “several times greater” even if strikes were limited, according to comments reported by semi-official Fars News Agency. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said Tehran sought peace but would answer aggression with “severe consequences.” She added that Iran would defend itself without waiting for permission.
Ali Abdollahi, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, said U.S. forces would not be allowed into the Gulf and dismissed the prospect as something President Donald Trump could only dream of, Al Jazeera reported.
Trump said Friday he might order another “little Epic Fury,” using the name of the U.S.-Israeli campaign that began Feb. 28. He had also kept the option of further military action open in earlier comments on Iran, as EconoTimes previously reported.
Al Jazeera reported that concern about renewed fighting was growing. It also said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained committed to overthrowing Iran’s government, and that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei had discussed compensation for Iranians affected by the war. Israeli voters are due to choose their next government Tuesday, while U.S. midterm elections are scheduled for Nov. 3.
