Iran says it is prepared for any scenario and will not yield to threats

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei Hamaneh said in an interview with German broadcaster ARD on Sunday that Iran has learned Washington and its leadership cannot be trusted, describing the US strategy as "not diplomacy, but attacking the Islamic Republic." Responding to President Donald Trump's remarks that the US would not attack Iran before the midterm elections, Baghaei said that regardless of what the US president says or does not say, Iranians remain prepared, citing past American attacks that occurred even while diplomatic processes were under way.

Baghaei recalled a statement by Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi that Iran and the US had made significant progress, yet Washington still chose to attack Iran, a reference to the American war amid talks with Oman acting as an intermediary. "The US has not shown the least bit of goodwill and will for a diplomatic approach," he said. On Europe's approach, Baghaei said it was regrettable that the Europeans were appeasing the United States rather than adopting an independent stance, adding that the international community expects the European Union to act maturely in global politics. He said the Europeans, instead of playing a constructive role on the nuclear issue, sided with the United States despite knowing the illegality of the war launched against Iran, the US breach of the JCPOA in 2018, and Washington's misuse of the UN Security Council to re-impose sanctions.

On the Strait of Hormuz, the spokesperson said the strategic waterway "was not secure" because the United States and Israel had exploited it to launch attacks on Iran, using not only the Strait itself but also the territory and military infrastructure of several Persian Gulf states on the opposite shore. He said Iran has served as the guardian of the waterway for centuries but was compelled to take serious measures to safeguard its national security and territorial integrity, actions he described as lawful under international law. Baghaei also cited continued US intervention in regional waters, saying CENTCOM, with the cooperation of certain regional states, has been pressuring vessels to use routes other than those specified by Iran, resulting in explosions and other incidents. He said the Americans were exploiting the "southern route" to transport military equipment, and that any littoral state has the right to take necessary measures to prevent aggressors from using these waterways for military purposes.

Regarding Iran-Germany relations, Baghaei said Berlin must decide whether it wants to change its approach or simply appease the United States. Germans once enjoyed a strong reputation in Iran, he said, but that standing has been tarnished since they failed to provide a convincing explanation for supplying the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein with chemical agents when he attacked Iran in the 1980s. He added that Germany's support for the US-Israeli war over the past two years, 2025 and 2026, and other anti-Iran measures have affected the good relations Tehran and Berlin previously enjoyed. According to Mehr News, the interview covered the nuclear program, regional security and bilateral ties with Germany.