WASHINGTON / TEHRAN: US President Donald Trump declined on Wednesday to rule out potential military strikes against Iran following the US elections, asserting that “anything is possible” regarding future security measures.
Reacting to Washington’s stance, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi affirmed on Wednesday that sustainable regional security must be established strictly by regional nations, explicitly warning against external military presence or foreign intervention.
The diplomatic standoff coincides with a report by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, revealing that Washington has cautioned several Persian Gulf Arab states to prepare for a potentially swift and intense military campaign against Iran post-midterm elections, as joint US and Israeli forces finalize operational contingencies for renewed strikes.
Defending his administration’s pressure campaign, Trump stated on Tuesday that he would “absolutely” launch strikes against Iran again if presented with similar operational circumstances, describing his previous decision as “one of the greatest things” he had executed. Addressing the global economic ripples, Trump framed the inflationary impact as “short-term pain” necessary for “long-term gain,” predicting a prompt decline in domestic gasoline prices.
Meanwhile, a Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson clarified on Tuesday that regional mediation efforts hinge on Iran demonstrating goodwill, ceasing rhetoric against neighboring Arab nations, and unblocking maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
In parallel diplomatic developments at the UN, US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz reiterated on Tuesday that Washington and its global allies would decisively block Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability, accusing Tehran of repeatedly defaulting on its international nuclear safeguards obligations.
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