Tehran, Mar 28 (EFE).- Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf warned on Friday that US bases in the Middle East would not be safe if Iran was attacked.
“If they threaten Islamic Iran, then, like powder kegs, America’s allies in the region and US bases will be made unsafe,” Qalibaf said in a speech at Tehran University on International Quds Day, a day dedicated to calling for the liberation of Palestine and the fall of Israel with marches throughout the country.
Qalibaf’s warning comes amid pressure from US President Donald Trump to negotiate a nuclear deal with Tehran.
Since his return to the White House, Trump has called for negotiations with Tehran and even sent a letter urging them to do so.
However, he has also resumed the so-called “maximum pressure” policy against Iran and approved four rounds of sanctions to cut off sales of Iranian oil.
Furthermore, he has threatened possible military action if Iran does not agree to negotiate.
On Thursday, Iran announced that it had responded to Trump’s letter and said that it would not negotiate directly with the US under pressure, but opened the door to indirect talks.
So far, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has rejected Washington’s offer of dialogue, calling it “a deception” and has warned that negotiating with the Trump administration would only lead to more sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
He also noted that, during his first term, the Republican abandoned the 2015 nuclear pact, which limited Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. EFE
jlr/pd