Iran points finger at US over stalled deal, warns of new strikes

Iran's president says the United States is to blame for an interim deal collapsing, a move that has raised fears of new attacks starting very soon. President Masoud Pezeshkian made the comments in a broadcast on Saturday. He placed the blame for the breakdown squarely on Washington. The statement comes at a tense time as military action could resume as soon as this weekend.

Pezeshkian said he would not rule out getting back to the negotiating table. He urged both nations to return to the agreement and “conclude it”. The deal was meant to end the war between Iran and a US and Israeli force. This follows a comment from US President Donald Trump on Friday. He said he “may do another little Epic Fury”. That was the name for the war that started on February 28. The threat of new attacks has put everyone on edge.

Iran's military is not backing down from threats of its own. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any strike, even a limited one, would bring a response “several times greater”. The warning was reported by the Fars News Agency. Top military officials are also taking a firm line. The head of Iran's armed forces said American troops would not be allowed into the Gulf “under any circumstances and at any time”. He said Donald Trump could only “dream” of that happening. He added that Trump would take that dream “to the grave”.

The Iranian government says it is ready to fight for its safety. “Our position is clear: we do not flee from dialogue for peace, and we do not hesitate in defending the country,” said spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani on Saturday. She also wrote in a memo that Iran “seeks peace but will respond to any aggression with severe consequences”. The tone from other leaders is just as strong. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is committed to replacing Iran's government.

The current moment is also shaped by politics on all sides. Two big votes are coming up. Israelis will choose their next government this Tuesday. In the United States, midterm elections are set for November 3. Democrats could win control of both houses of Congress. Such an outcome would be a major blow for President Trump. He still has more than two years to serve in his final term in the White House. These votes could influence the path of the conflict.

Inside Iran, the leadership is focused on stability. The judiciary chief met with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. They discussed issues like corruption and plans to help those hurt by the war. Khamenei took power after his father was killed in the first strikes on February 28. He has not been seen in public since he started the role in early March. The country's parliament speaker and chief negotiator also met with him this week.

Iran says it wants a deal. The US is talking about more attacks. Both sides are also facing political choices at home in the coming days. The war could stop or it could start again. The coming days will show which way it goes.