The Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Basra, Ali Abedi, confirmed that Tehran is open to the option of negotiation and dialogue, but at the same time it does not rule out an “unexpected” response if it is exposed to any attack that threatens its national security.

Abedi explained, in a talk about developments in the scene between Iran and the United States, that his country does not seek war, and is moving towards calm and reducing escalation through political paths that include discussions and meetings, stressing that this trend reflects a clear Iranian policy.

He pointed out that continued American pressure may push Iran to raise its level of preparedness for all possible scenarios, including military confrontation, pointing out that Tehran’s readiness is known “to the enemy before the friend.”

The Iranian consul stated that any potential negotiations between Tehran and Washington would be in accordance with the will and conditions determined by Iran, and in line with its political and security strategy, stressing that previous experiences had weakened the level of confidence in the American side.

He added that the United States, as he put it, "burned most of the negotiating cards" towards escalation, which makes it difficult to provide real guarantees for any future negotiating track.