The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Navy rejected any negotiations with the United States regarding its missile arsenal and the capabilities of the anti-Israel bloc known as the “Axis of Resistance,” according to Iranian media reports on Saturday.
“Iran will never negotiate over its missiles or the capabilities of the Resistance Front,” stated Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the Revolutionary Guard Navy, as reported by the Tasnim news agency.
Last Tuesday, Iran unveiled a new underground ballistic missile base, the fourth since the beginning of the year.
Regarding the letter sent by former U.S. President Donald Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and the conditions imposed on Tehran, Tangsiri said he was unaware of the message’s contents and was not interested in analyses on the matter.
“I hear their threats, observe their actions, and prepare to confront them,” the senior military official declared.
The rear admiral warned that any aggression against Iran would not go unpunished. “No one can attack Iran and escape; if necessary, we will pursue them all the way to the Gulf of Mexico,” he stated.
According to Iranian media reports, Trump’s letter urged Tehran to begin negotiations with Washington over its nuclear program, missile development, and support for groups that make up the “Axis of Resistance,” such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine, and the Houthis in Yemen, among others.
The U.S. president warned that if Iran refused negotiations, it would face a military response. In response to this threat, Tangsiri emphasized that any attack on Iran would be met with a “decisive response.”
On Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed that Iran had responded to Trump’s letter and reiterated its willingness to engage in indirect dialogue with Washington.
In statements to the IRNA news agency, Araqchi explained that Iran’s response outlined its stance on the current situation. He also reiterated that Tehran is not willing to hold direct negotiations as long as Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy and military threats continue, but it is open to indirect talks.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has repeatedly called for negotiations with Tehran and even sent a letter urging talks. However, at the same time, he has revived the so-called “maximum pressure” policy against Iran and imposed four rounds of sanctions aimed at cutting off Iranian oil sales.
