Iranian Official Does Not Rule Out Renewed War with America

SadaNews - An Iranian military official stated on Saturday that the possibility of renewed war with the United States is "a likely scenario," as peace talks continue to stall and President Donald Trump criticizes the latest Iranian proposal in the negotiations.

Mohammad Jafar Asadi, Deputy Head of Inspections at the "Khatam al-Anbiya" military headquarters, told the Fars News Agency that "the renewed conflict between Iran and the United States is a likely scenario, and facts have shown that the United States does not adhere to any of its promises or agreements."

He added that the armed forces are fully prepared for any adventure or reckless action on the part of the Americans, noting that this readiness "is not limited to the armed forces and the people; even the political forces that once had disagreements now realize the necessity of maintaining unity."

The New Proposal

Iran, on Friday, presented a new proposal for negotiations through Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, without providing any details on its content. However, Trump confirmed that he is "not satisfied" with the new proposal.

In statements to reporters at the White House, he said, "They are asking for things I can't agree to."

In contrast, Reuters reported that a senior Iranian official said on Saturday that Tehran's proposal, which Trump has rejected so far, includes opening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic and ending the American naval blockade on Iran, while postponing discussions regarding the Iranian nuclear program to a later stage.

The Iranian official clarified that Tehran believes that the latest suggestion to postpone nuclear talks to a later stage represents a significant shift aimed at facilitating an agreement, stating, "Under this framework, negotiations on the more complex nuclear issue are deferred to the final stage to create a more conducive atmosphere."

Reuters and other news agencies had already reported last week that Tehran proposed to reopen the strait before resolving nuclear issues, and the official confirmed that this new timeline has now crystallized in an official proposal relayed to the United States by the mediators.

A Message to Congress

Trump - who is facing internal pressures for authorization from American legislators to go to war - announced in a message to Congress on Friday the end of hostilities against Iran, despite no change in the American military posture.

On Friday, the sixty-day deadline lapsed, after which Trump is required to seek Congressional authorization to continue the war. However, the Republican administration has hinted that it will ignore this, while Democrats find themselves incapable of binding the president on this matter.

The aircraft carrier "USS Gerald R. Ford" - the largest in the world - has left the Middle East, but 20 American naval warships, including two other aircraft carriers, remain in the region.

The war in the Middle East has left thousands of dead, especially in Iran and Lebanon, and its repercussions continue to shake the global economy, with oil prices reaching unprecedented record levels this week not seen since 2022.

While Trump repeatedly expresses his displeasure at the Europeans' refusal to provide military support to Washington in its war against Iran, the Pentagon announced on Friday the withdrawal of around 5,000 soldiers from Germany over the course of a year.

Trump had previously raised the possibility of reducing American military forces stationed in Germany, which is a NATO member, following remarks made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

On Monday, the German Chancellor stated that the Americans clearly lack a strategy regarding Iran, and that Tehran is "humiliating" the world's superpower.

Trump responded on Tuesday that Merz "thinks it's acceptable for Iran to have nuclear weapons. He doesn't know what he's talking about."

Rejection of Impositions

Iranian Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei confirmed on Friday that Tehran is open to discussion but rejects being "dictated" policies under threat.

While the truce has allowed Iranians to reclaim some of their normal lives, the twin concerns of rising inflation and unemployment in a country weakened by decades of international sanctions remain present.

In this context, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei called on Friday for support for productive workers by prioritizing the consumption of local products.

Mojtaba stated in a written statement that Iran has been able to "demonstrate to the world in the military confrontation with enemies a part of its remarkable capabilities, and today it must thwart and defeat them also in the field of economic and cultural jihad."