After Trump threats: Iran places military on excessive alert | EUROtoday

Following US President Donald Trump’s threats of assault, Iran has put its armed forces on excessive alert. Army chief Amir Hatami additionally warned the US on Saturday in opposition to making a “mistake” that will endanger its personal safety.

The armed forces are “in full defense and combat readiness,” Iran’s military chief Hatami stated, in line with the state information company Irna. “If the enemy makes a mistake, it will undoubtedly endanger its own security, the security of the region and the security of the Zionist regime,” he additionally warned. Tehran makes use of the time period “Zionist regime” for Israel – each nations are deeply hostile and battle for affect within the area.

Trump had beforehand threatened once more with US navy assaults in opposition to the nation if Tehran refused to signal a brand new nuclear settlement. The US President additionally referred on Friday to US warships that he had despatched in direction of Iran: “We have a large armada, fleet, call it what you will, that is currently heading towards Iran, even larger than what we had in Venezuela,” he stated.

Trump declined to reply the query of whether or not he was planning a navy operation just like that in Venezuela if no settlement was reached with Iran. At the start of January, US particular forces captured the left-wing nationalist Venezuelan head of state Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and introduced him to New York, the place he’s to be tried.

At the identical time, Trump was satisfied that Tehran would finally comply with an settlement on the nation’s controversial nuclear program. “I can say one thing, they want to make a deal,” Trump informed reporters on the White House. Asked whether or not he had set a deadline for Iran to succeed in an settlement on its nuclear program, its missile program or different points, Trump replied: “Yes, I have.” Trump didn’t say when this deadline would expire. Only Iran is aware of this.

Foreign Minister requires negotiations “on equal terms”

Tehran had lately agreed to renew talks about its nuclear program. Corresponding negotiations should happen “fairly and on an equal footing” and mustn’t embrace any debates about his nation’s missile shares or protection capacities, demanded Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi throughout a go to to Istanbul. According to him, there are presently no concrete plans for a gathering with US representatives to renew nuclear talks with Iran.

Amid heightened tensions, there have been a number of explosions in Iran. One individual was killed and 14 folks had been injured in an explosion within the port metropolis of Bandar Abbas within the south of the nation on the Persian Gulf, the Iranian information company Tasnim reported.

Eyewitnesses additionally reported an explosion and rising smoke close to the capital Tehran. However, in line with an official, solely reeds on a river caught hearth, as Iranian media reported. The Iranian on-line portal “Nur News” additionally reported, citing the hearth chief of town of Ahwas within the southwest of the nation, {that a} gasoline explosion had occurred there. According to info, there have been 4 useless.

The Tasnim information company, which is near the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), denied rumors that the explosion in Bandar Abbas was an try to assassinate IRGC navy commander Aliresa Tangsiri. The state information company Irna printed a photograph of {a partially} destroyed entrance of a multi-story residential constructing. According to the AFP information company, which refers to info from the hearth division, the explosion was brought on by a gasoline leak.