There will be no war between Iran and the US – reaffirm Iranian officials

Despite everyday reports and media speculations of an imminent American military move against the Islamic Republic, Iranian officials, both political and military, firmly believe there won’t be any war against the country. Nonetheless, they reaffirm Iran’s preparedness to defend itself in case of any aggressive move.

کد خبر: ۹۰۰۲۴۳

تاریخ: ۲۹ ارديبهشت ۱۳۹۸ - ۱۶:۴۲

Tabnak – Despite everyday reports and media speculations of an imminent American military move against the Islamic Republic, Iranian officials, both political and military, firmly believe there won’t be any war against the country. Nonetheless, they reaffirm Iran’s preparedness to defend itself in case of any aggressive move.

In this vein, the chief commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says Iran does not seek war but is not afraid of one either.

Making a speech on Sunday, Major General Hossein Salami said that Iran was currently facing a threat close to its territory and thus the IRGC had operationalized its resources against that threat. “When a threat is posed from afar, we think about it [only] on a strategic level, but when it comes close, we become active on operational levels as well,” he said.

He emphasized that Iran did not intend to be the aggressor party. “We are not after war but we are not afraid of war either; though, before us, enemies do not have the will to wage war and are afraid of fighting [too],” Major General Salami said. He stressed that Iran was prepared in all defensive areas.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed confidence that no war would break out in the Middle East amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States.

"As Leader of the Islamic Revolution has also announced, we are certain that no war will break out because neither we want a war, nor has anyone the idea or illusion that it can confront Iran in the region," Zarif told the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). "However, it is necessary for the people of the United States to realize the dangerous moves inside the country."

Zarif further emphasized that US President Donald Trump does not want war but there are people around him who are pushing him towards war under the pretext of making America stronger against Iran.

In comments last week, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei underlined that there will be no military confrontation between Iran and the US as Washington is aware that it won’t be in its interest, adding that negotiation with the US is not on the Islamic Republic’s agenda either.

“The Iranian nation’s definite option will be resistance in the face of the US, and in this confrontation, the US would be forced into a retreat,” Ayatollah Khamenei said. “Neither we nor they, who know war will not be in their interest, are after war.”

On April 8, the United States blacklisted the IRGC, prompting Iran to reciprocate by designating American forces based in West Asia as terrorists. The US has also deployed an aircraft carrier, a bomber task force, and an assault ship to the Persian Gulf, claiming that IRGC boats in Iranian waters in the Persian Gulf were equipped with missiles.