U.S. president Donald Trump said on Sunday, February 1st that he remains hopeful of reaching a deal with Iran, despite heightened tensions following warnings from Tehran that any U.S. military action would lead to a regional war.
Khamenei described the recent wave of anti-government protests in Iran as a “coup,” claiming they involved attacks on police, government buildings, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) centres, banks, and mosques, as well as the burning of the Koran. He said the unrest had been suppressed and
The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war.
Asked about the Iranian leader’s remarks, Trump told reporters that he expected such rhetoric but emphasized that diplomacy remained possible. “Hopefully we’ll make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, then we’ll find out whether or not he was right,” he added.
The demonstrations began over economic grievances related to the high cost of living before expanding into a broader anti-government movement. Iranian leaders have described the protests as riots influenced by foreign actors, including the United States and Israel.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he was concerned about possible “miscalculations”, but said he believed Trump was “wise enough to make the correct decision”.
He added that Iran has lost trust in the United States but noted that regional countries were working to rebuild confidence.
