The US becoming a member of Israeli strikes would trigger “hell for the entire area”, Iran’s deputy international minister has informed the BBC.
Saeed Khatibzadeh mentioned that is “not America’s battle” and if US President Donald Trump does become involved, he’ll at all times be remembered as “a president who entered a battle he would not belong in”.
He mentioned US involvement would flip the battle right into a “quagmire”, proceed aggression and delay an finish to the “brutal atrocities”.
His feedback got here after the Soroka hospital in southern Israel was hit throughout an Iranian missile assault. Iranian state media reported that the strike focused a army web site subsequent to the hospital, and never the power itself.
Israel’s Ministry of Well being mentioned 71 individuals have been injured through the assault on the Soroka Medical Centre.
In the meantime, Israel’s army mentioned it had focused Iran’s nuclear websites together with the “inactive” Arak heavy water reactor and Natanz facility.
Tehran has not given an replace on casualties in Iran from Israeli strikes.
The newest assaults come at a important time. On Thursday, the White Home mentioned Trump would determine whether or not or not the US will get immediately concerned within the battle inside the subsequent two weeks.
Talking to the BBC, Khatibzadeh insisted that “after all, diplomacy is the primary possibility”, however mentioned however whereas bombardment continues “we can not begin any negotiation”.
He repeatedly known as Iran’s assaults on Israel “self defence underneath Article 51 of the UN Constitution” and mentioned “we have been in the midst of diplomacy” when in a significant escalation of the battle on 13 June, Israel launched assaults on Iranian nuclear websites, killing a number of high generals and nuclear scientists.
The deputy international minister known as the battle “unprovoked” and “pointless”.
Responding to Trump’s repeated feedback that the battle might have been averted if Iran had accepted a nuclear deal, Khatibzadeh mentioned they have been negotiating till Israel “sabotaged” discussions by launching assaults Iran.
“We have been planning to have the sixth spherical of nuclear talks in Muscat, and we have been truly on the verge of reaching an settlement,” he mentioned.
“President Trump is aware of higher than anyone else that we have been on the verge of reaching an settlement.”
He additionally criticised Trump’s “complicated and contradictory” social media posts and interviews, which he mentioned indicated “that People have been conscious and have participated” within the battle.
US particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araqchi have reportedly spoken on the telephone a number of occasions since Friday, in a bid to discover a diplomatic finish to the disaster, Reuters reported.
In line with three diplomats who spoke to the information company and requested to not be recognized as a result of sensitivity of the matter, Araqchi mentioned Tehran wouldn’t return to negotiations except Israel stopped the assaults.
Israel has alleged Iran has just lately “taken steps to weaponise” its enriched uranium stockpile, which can be utilized for energy crops or nuclear bombs. Iran has at all times claimed that its nuclear programme is fully peaceable.
On Friday, the Worldwide Atomic Vitality Company (IAEA) – the UN’s nuclear watchdog – mentioned Iran had amassed sufficient uranium enriched as much as 60% purity – a brief technical step away from weapons grade, or 90% – to doubtlessly make nuclear bombs.
“That is nonsense,” Khatibzadeh mentioned in response. “You can not begin a battle based mostly on hypothesis or intention.
“If we wished to have a nuclear bomb, we’d have had it method earlier than.
“Iran has by no means developed any programme for nuclear weaponisation of peaceable nuclear actions. Backside line.”
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi mentioned that nuclear amenities “mustn’t ever be attacked, whatever the context or circumstances, because it might hurt each individuals and the surroundings”.
Khatibzadeh additionally mentioned potential diplomatic channels after a G7 summit in Canada.
He mentioned: “What we’re listening to from Europeans is that they want to get again to diplomacy at a ministerial degree”.
“They’ll have a gathering in Geneva and we’re very a lot completely satisfied that lastly they’ve to return and discuss on the desk concerning the points at hand.”
