Iran-Trump latest: President says Tehran is ‘seriously talking’ to US as ayatollah threatens regional war
Donald Trump said Iran is now “seriously talking” to the US following repeated threats of military action, as the supreme leader in Tehran warned a conflict with Washington would blow up into a regional war.
The US president declined to say on Saturday night whether he had made his “final decision” on whether or not to use force against Iran. He indicated Iran was engaging in diplomacy instead.
Asked if the regime would be emboldened by the US backing off, Trump replied: “Well, some people think that and some people don’t. And if you could make a negotiated deal that would be satisfactory with no nuclear weapons they should do that. But I don’t know that they will. But they are talking to us. Seriously talking to us.”
The ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday played down the American threats, warning that any provocation would be met with a fierce response.
“We are not the ones who start a war and we do not want to attack any country,” he said. “But if America attacks or harms Iran the Iranian nation will deliver a strong blow and any war started by America will spread across the region.”
