TEHRAN: As the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance enters its 16th day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Sunday that Tehran remains open to diplomatic negotiations, provided there are concrete guarantees to end the hostilities. The statement marks a potential pivot in the regional crisis, though it was delivered alongside fierce rhetoric from Iran’s military wing and official denials regarding the health of the country’s leadership.
Araghchi stated that the Iranian government would welcome any legitimate proposal that effectively halts the war. However, this diplomatic opening coincides with increasing pressure from neighbouring Gulf nations, which have reportedly demanded that Iran cease military operations originating from or targeting their territories.
The prospect of peace remains clouded by an aggressive stance from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to reports from Al Jazeera, the IRGC has issued a direct threat against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as a “child killer” and vowing to hunt him down with “full force” for as long as he remains alive.
The Iranian Foreign Minister also used his address to dismiss international reports concerning the health of the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. Araghchi firmly rejected claims made by British media outlet The Sun and President Donald Trump, which suggested that Khamenei had been incapacitated during a military strike on February 28.
While foreign reports alleged the Supreme Leader was in a coma and had undergone an amputation following the late-February bombardment, Araghchi insisted that Khamenei is in good health and has sustained no injuries. This clarification aims to stabilize internal sentiment as the region navigates one of its most volatile periods in recent history.
