Iranian Official Warns of Regional Chaos if US Joins Israeli Strikes

Saeed Khatibzadeh, Iran's deputy foreign minister, warned in an interview with the BBC that any US participation in Israeli military strikes would lead to widespread regional chaos, terming it "not America's war." His comments come in the aftermath of recent violent exchanges between Iran and Israel, raising concerns about diplomatic negotiations amidst escalating tensions.

Iran's deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, expressed grave concerns about the potential involvement of the United States in ongoing military strikes against Israel, warning that such actions would create "hell for the whole region." In an exclusive interview with the BBC, Khatibzadeh emphasized that any direct engagement by US President Donald Trump would be a mistake that would require him to be remembered as "a president who entered a war he doesn't belong in."

The backdrop of these comments is the recent missile strike on the Soroka Medical Centre in southern Israel, attributed to Iran. Iranian state media announced that the missile targeted an alleged military site near the hospital rather than the hospital itself. The attack resulted in injuries to 71 individuals, according to Israeli health authorities. In retaliation, Israel’s military claimed to have conducted strikes on critical Iranian nuclear facilities, including the Arak heavy water reactor and the Natanz enrichment site.

Khatibzadeh clarified that though Iran has been engaged in military action, the nation views it as an act of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter and emphasized that diplomacy must be prioritized despite the ongoing hostilities. He criticized the timing of Israel’s attacks on Iranian nuclear sites, which coincided with what he described as fruitful negotiations aimed at reducing tensions.

The deputy foreign minister stated that the conflict was "unprovoked" and attributed Israeli aggression as a primary factor in derailing potential peace talks. He indicated that negotiations had nearly reached an agreement before violence escalated. He also dismissed Trump’s insinuations that the crisis could have been averted if Iran had accepted a nuclear deal, arguing that ongoing discussions were sabotaged by Israeli military actions.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi have reportedly communicated multiple times in an effort to foster a diplomatic resolution to the escalating crisis. However, Araqchi has made it clear that Iran will not return to negotiations unless Israel halts its military strikes.

The recent developments have raised alarms regarding Iran's nuclear intentions, following reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) indicating that Iran has enriched uranium to a purity level just below weapons-grade. Khatibzadeh dismissed these fears as "nonsense," asserting that Iran has consistently pursued peaceful nuclear activities rather than weapons development.

In light of the escalating tensions, Khatibzadeh also highlighted ongoing diplomatic channels and expressed cautious optimism for renewed discussions among European counterparts, after the upcoming G7 summit. He asserted the need for negotiations to avert further aggression in the already volatile region.