Khatibzadeh labeled any potential U.S. military intervention as "not America's war," arguing it could lead to a quagmire and stressed that Iran's recent attacks on Israel were acts of self-defense. The statement comes alongside ongoing violence following Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Iran Warns Against U.S. Military Involvement in Israeli Conflict
Iran Warns Against U.S. Military Involvement in Israeli Conflict
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh cautions that U.S. participation in Israeli strikes could escalate tensions across the region and prolong violence.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh has issued a stark warning regarding potential U.S. involvement in the conflict with Israel, indicating that if the United States participates in Israeli strikes, it would lead to "hell for the whole region." In an interview with the BBC, Khatibzadeh emphasized that this crisis is "not America's war" and argued that President Donald Trump would be remembered unfavorably for engaging in a conflict he does not belong in. He labeled U.S. involvement as a catalyst for turning what is already a difficult situation into a "quagmire."
The comments come on the heels of an Iranian missile attack on the Soroka Medical Centre in southern Israel, which reportedly injured 71 people. Iranian state media claimed the strike was directed at a military site near the hospital rather than the facility itself. In response, Israel's military stated it had targeted Iranian nuclear sites, including the Arak heavy water reactor and Natanz facility. Tehran has yet to provide updates regarding casualties from Israeli attacks.
In light of escalating tensions, the White House announced that President Trump would make a decision within the next two weeks about direct U.S. involvement in the conflict. Khatibzadeh reiterated that although "of course, diplomacy is the first option," continued bombardments make negotiations impractical. He described Iran's military actions against Israel as self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, noting that Israel's aggression initiated this cycle of violence.
Responding to claims from Trump that the current conflict could have been avoided with a nuclear deal, Khatibzadeh asserted Iran was engaged in negotiations until Israel escalated tensions through attacks that killed prominent Iranian military figures. "We were planning to have the sixth round of nuclear talks in Muscat... and were on the verge of reaching an agreement," he stated, criticizing Trump's inconsistent messaging as adding complexity to the situation.
Diplomatic efforts continued, with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff communicating with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, though Araqchi insisted on stopping Israeli attacks before returning to talks. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful, countering allegations from Israel of potential weaponization.
Regarding recent findings from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran has enriched uranium at levels close to weapons grade, Khatibzadeh dismissed the claims as "nonsense" and emphasized that allegations should not justify launching military actions—a sentiment echoed by IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi, who stressed that nuclear facilities should be protected from military attacks under any circumstances.
As global powers assess the situation, Khatibzadeh expressed hope for renewed diplomatic discussions following a G7 summit in Canada, indicating that the Europeans are reportedly interested in returning to high-level negotiations. The subsequent meetings in Geneva could potentially pave the way for dialogue on the pressing issues at hand.
