Tehran Says ‘No Military Solution’ in Hormuz Strait After Trump Threatens To Wipe Iran ‘Off the Face of Earth’

After President Trump threatened to blow Iran “off the face of the earth” if the regime attacks the US Navy, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that “events” in the Strait of Hormuz “make clear that there’s no military solution to a political crisis.”“As talks are making progress with Pakistan’s gracious effort, the U.S. should be wary of being dragged back into [a] quagmire by ill-wishers,” Araghchi continued. “So should the UAE. Project Freedom is Project Deadlock.” Iranian Speaker of the Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also issued a warning to the U.S. on Tuesday, saying: “We know full well that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; whilst we have not even started yet.”Mr. Araghchi’s warning came after Iran fired 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones at the UAE on Monday. Drone attacks on the latter’s Fujairah Oil Industry Zone caused a “major fire” and left three Indian nationals wounded. Israel’s air defense system deployed in the UAE took part in interpreting some of the missiles, according to CNN. The UAE’s Foreign Ministry said it “reserves its full and legitimate right” to respond to the Iranian missile and drone attacks, while Egypt and the UK strongly condemned Iran’s escalatory actions. “We stand in solidarity with the UAE and will continue to support the defence of our partners in the Gulf,” said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “This escalation must cease. Iran needs to engage meaningfully in negotiations to ensure the ceasefire in the Middle East endures, and a long-term diplomatic solution is achieved.”Mr. Trump warned in a Fox News interview Monday that Iran would be “blown off the face of the earth” if it targets US shipping in the area. The U.S. has “more weapons and ammunition at a much higher grade than we had before,” he added.“We have the best equipment,” he said. “We have stuff all over the world. We have these bases all over the world. They’re all stocked up with equipment. We can use all of that stuff, and we will, if we need it.” Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of the U.S. Central Command, confirmed on Monday that the Navy destroyed six Iranian small boats “that attempted to interfere” with its mission in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and AH-64 Apache helicopters took part in the attacks on Iranian boats. CENTCOM also said 50 commercial vessels had been “redirected by U.S. forces to ensure compliance” with the U.S. blockade since it began. Germany meanwhile stationed two ships in the Mediterranean as the country prepared to deploy its navy in the Strait of Hormuz. The German Defense Ministry said “additional capabilities are expected to be deployed in the coming weeks.”“The Federal Government,” it added, “is willing to make a significant and visible contribution within an international coalition to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The aim of our efforts is to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz, as an important maritime and trade route, is once again safe for navigation in the near future.”

Tehran Says ‘No Military Solution’ in Hormuz Strait After Trump Threatens To Wipe Iran ‘Off the Face of Earth’

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