Iran vows to ‘deal devastating blows using full military might’

TEHRAN, Sept 20: Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says “one must both fight and negotiate” as the nearly seven-month war with the United States drags on.

“This means at the critical moment we must push the enemy back and deal them devastating blows using our full military might,” Ghalibaf said while addressing parliament.

“However, once we have achieved significant success on the battlefield and the enemy is in a position of weakness, we must use diplomacy to consolidate these gains.”

Iran’s position in negotiations is “entirely clear, rational, and non-negotiable”, Ghalibaf said, adding the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until all US commitments are fulfilled.

The comments come as Pakistani and Qatari mediators were told by Iran it has seven conditions before any talks with the United States can begin.

Iran’s central military command warns any US attack will lead to Iranian retaliation “without any limitations or considerations” on American bases and interests in the Middle East, state media reports.

“Any mistake will result in painful attacks,” Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military headquarters said in a statement carried by official media.

“According to information received, the United States �" seeking to cover up its failures and achieve fabricated gains in a war that was launched based on Israeli lies and stage-managing and has been sustained through deception and trickery �" has once again decided, with the green light from some regional countries, to resume actions against the Islamic Republic of Iran at a joint meeting in a European country.”�"AL JAZEERA