Middle East & North Africa
Araghchi to Washington: “Our two-day proposal stands” – or choose war and face “hellfire” – sources
Iran’s foreign minister says the American voters made their choice and now the White House must make its own, while saying ceasefire efforts are stalled after the US midterms.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday, November 8, put Washington before a dilemma: either it accepts the Iranian proposal to end the war on all fronts, or it will face a strong military response. “American voters made their choice. It is time for the White House to make its own,” he wrote on X, referring to the result of the US midterm elections.
“Our two-day proposal stands: meet the conditions, including an end to the war on all fronts, and you will see results. Otherwise choose war and you will see our battle-hardened fighters, who are on alert, unleash hellfire,” he added. In an earlier statement the same day, relayed by the Iranian foreign ministry, Mr Araghchi had warned that Tehran “will show no leniency” toward American targets in the region.
Speaking later to reporters in Tehran, Iran’s top diplomat said efforts for a ceasefire are at an impasse and blamed the American elections. “The main reason is the results of the elections in the US, which were obviously a shock to everyone,” he said. “It will take some time for things to calm down and for a climate to form that lets the mediators resume their visits. We have to wait.”
Brig. Gen. Ali Belali, an adviser to the commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ Aerospace Force, struck the same tone in a Telegram statement, claiming Iran’s weapons are “secured for the coming years” and that the armed forces are ready. “If the enemy makes a mistake, Iran’s response will be devastating and harsh,” he warned, adding that the country’s capabilities were upgraded after the “Ramadan War.” The Guards recently announced that the limit on their missile range had been “lifted”.
The same day Donald Trump told CNN in a telephone interview that new American strikes are “extremely unlikely” if Tehran signs a “very strong deal.” The American president warned, however, that three US aircraft carriers are in the region at full readiness and that Washington has identified 38 Iranian bridges it can destroy “within an hour.”
Tension also remains high at sea. Iranian state media, citing the Iranian Navy, said a tanker caught fire after hitting a mine east of the Strait of Hormuz. The Navy claimed the vessel had its identification systems switched off and was moving through a prohibited zone. The US-Iran war is now eight months old, with Tehran having sent a nuclear proposal with seven conditions via Qatar.
