“Strong fist”: Iran is a direct threat to the US

A day before the round of negotiation talks that will take place in Geneva – in Tehran today (Wednesday) they speak with two voices: outwardly they broadcast openness to diplomacy, and at the same time they send the Americans a firm message of standing up to the heavy pressure. The regime makes it clear that the calculations will not change and that any attempt to impose an agreement by force may lead to a wide escalation.

Mohammad Bakr Kalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament and one of the most prominent voices in the Iranian regime, sent a warning to the Americans that all options are on the table, including diplomacy with honor and a defense that will make them regret.

He further clarified: “If you decide to use deception, lies, incorrect analysis and misinformation, repeat the experience of the past and attack in the middle of the negotiations, you will undoubtedly absorb the strong punch of the Iranian people and the defense forces of the country.”

Mehdi Mohammadi, the advisor to the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, sought to dismantle the American premise last night. “The basic American premise has always been and still is – that Iran’s calculations ‘eventually’ will change under pressure. The United States has always assumed that the problem, if anything, is the ‘degree of pressure’ and not the principle of the pressure strategy,” he argued.

A message to the USA: “If you decide to use deceit and lies – you will absorb the strong fist of the Iranian people”

“Accordingly, in a complex cognitive struggle, the leadership, the armed forces and a large part of the community of Iran decided to show Trump that pressure, regardless of its level – will not change Iran’s calculations,” Mohammadi continued. “Why? Because they knew that if the calculations changed under pressure, the only result would be increased pressure.”

From here, according to the same line of thinking, the ball is now in Trump’s court. Muhammadi presented him with two ways. “One is to continue acting according to the formula that says that pressure is not enough and that if it increases enough, Iran will change its mind. The second is to finally understand that this way is fundamentally wrong with a country like Iran and must change.”

“Iran has proven during this period that there is no such thing as a limited attack. Any attack will lead to a widespread conflict,” he emphasized. “And the result of the attack will not be the surrender of Iran, but an unprecedented counter-attack against the United States.”

In Tehran, they are already marking the bottom line: the message to Washington is clear. “On the evening of the talks on Thursday, one thing should be clear: Iran’s calculations, no matter how much pressure is applied, will not change under pressure,” Mohammadi clarified. “Now, Trump must decide: change his calculations and choose a new path, or continue the current path that has failed.”

Along with the offensive line, Tehran also makes sure to present a diplomatic front. Iranian Foreign Minister Arakchi last night presented the talks in Geneva as a real opportunity for an agreement, emphasized a commitment to a “fair and just” settlement and clarified that Iran is ready to move forward quickly – as long as diplomacy is at the center.

However, according to him, “Iran’s fundamental positions are completely clear” – not striving for nuclear weapons, but also not giving up the right to civilian nuclear technology. A statement that is presented as a reassuring commitment, but in the West they cast doubt on it in view of the scope of Iran’s nuclear program and many years of familiarity with it.