ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iran’s foreign ministry on Monday summoned the chargé d'affaires of the Swiss embassy in Tehran to protest “the threats” made by US President Donald Trump and any potential “wickedness” by Israel, according to a statement from the ministry.
Director general of the Americas Department at the Iranian foreign ministry, Issa Kameli, stated that, “In light of the continued wickedness of the Zionist [Israeli] regime to create insecurity in the region and the threats made by the President of the United States,” Tehran delivered “an official warning” to the Swiss diplomat “regarding any [potential] wrongdoing [against Iran].”
Kameli condemned “statements that provoke tension and go against international law and the United Nations Charter,” and reiterated his country’s “determination to respond decisively and promptly to any threat.”
The Iranian complaint comes a day after US President Trump warned that “there will be bombing” against Iranian interests if Tehran fails to reach an agreement with Washington.
“If they don’t make a deal [with the US], there will be bombing, and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before,” Trump told NBC News late Saturday in a phone call.
On March 7, Trump stated that he had sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei signaling openness to new nuclear negotiations but also threatened possible military action if Iran refuses to cooperate. “If we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing for them,” Trump said.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday downplayed the possibility of American military action against his country but stressed that Tehran stands ready “for both threats and diplomacy.”
A day prior, Araghchi confirmed that Iran had responded to Trump’s letter through Oman, reiterating that Tehran will not engage directly with Washington as long as the US maintains its “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran.
After returning to the White House, Trump in early February restored his “maximum pressure” policy against Tehran, arguing that it is “too close” to a nuclear weapon. He also expressed openness to negotiate a new deal with Tehran, though Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei then deemed negotiations with Washington as “unwise.”
Under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear enrichment program in exchange for much-needed relief from crippling sanctions. However, the deal began unraveling in 2018 when Trump, during his first term, unilaterally withdrew the US from the accord and reimposed biting sanctions on Iran.
Tehran waited a year and then gradually ramped up its nuclear activities.
