The Iranian Foreign Minister Denies Trump Holds 'All the Chips'
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi stated that the United States mistakenly believes it holds the greatest influence in the conflict with Iran.
During the standoff triggered by attacks initiated by the U.S. and Israel at the end of February, the two sides differ on who can endure longer. Negotiations mediated by Pakistan have so far failed to break through.
"We hold all the chips. If they want to talk, they can come find us or call us," said U.S. President Trump. "We won’t send people on an 18-hour flight to (Islamabad)."
After visiting Pakistan and Oman over the weekend, Araghchi traveled to Russia, where he posted on X platform refuting Trump’s claim, arguing that Trump is not in a superior position, and outlining possible scenarios for escalation. "Add summer vacation to the list of chips too — unless they want to cancel summer vacation in America!" he wrote, subtly referencing soaring fuel prices.
In response to U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, Iran partially closed the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and, through its Houthi allies in Yemen, threatened shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. In turn, the Trump administration announced a blockade of the Persian Gulf, targeting Iran’s oil exports, and warned of potentially destroying Iran’s entire "civilization."
Speaking on Fox News, Trump claimed Iran cannot significantly reduce its oil output and will soon exhaust its storage capacity, with its oil infrastructure facing risk of "explosion from within"—a situation he believes gives Washington leverage.
According to reports, Araghchi refused to hold new talks with Trump’s envoys Witkowsky and Kushner in Islamabad, but requested intermediaries convey a new proposal. The framework suggests reopening the Persian Gulf while postponing negotiations on Iran’s uranium enrichment program and stockpile. The U.S. has justified its strikes on Iran by citing Tehran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons.
The fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran remains under pressure, partly due to Israel's ongoing airstrikes on Lebanon. These air raids should have ceased according to both the broader ceasefire agreement and an independently extended bilateral truce last Friday.
At a cabinet meeting over the weekend, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu accused Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based armed group allied with Tehran, of "undermining the ceasefire" and announced further military action to "prevent imminent, emerging threats."
Israel aims to control a large swath of southern Lebanon up to the Litani River. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, Israeli airstrikes Saturday killed at least 14 people. Beirut authorities report that over 2,500 people have been killed and more than 7,700 injured since Israel escalated its hostile actions against Lebanon amid the broader conflict with Iran.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863671027567625/
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