Iran chides US over war ‘quagmire’, says it must ‘extricate’ itself
Iran’s parliament speaker says the United States has entered a “quagmire” because of miscalculations in launching the war and Washington must now “take the necessary steps to extricate” itself.
President Donald Trump says the US is considering a possible attack on Iran as soon as Sunday, suggesting Washington might have to “finish the job” – or could reach a deal with Tehran.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian blames the US called the Americans “cowards” who “messed everything up” when starting the war, while maintaining Tehran should still push to conclude a peace deal.
Iran’s top negotiator says US ‘entered a quagmire’ because of ‘miscalculations’
The speaker of parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, says the US is wrong to believe “by using media pressure tactics or military threats” it can force Iran “to submit”.
“They fail to realise that the Iran of today is not the Iran of the humiliating Pahlavi era. Rather, it is an impregnable fortress of self-belief, defensive might and iron-clad resolve that will never permit any foreign power to dictate terms regarding the honour of this land,” he said.
“The Americans entered a quagmire due to their own miscalculations, and it is up to them to take the necessary steps to extricate themselves.”
Obama condemns Trump’s ‘unnecessary war’ on Iran
Former US President Barack Obama has delivered scathing criticism of Trump at rallies ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
“The current president chose to make a series of bad decisions,” Obama said in Cleveland, Ohio. “Most importantly, he decided to start an unnecessary war that nobody asked for.”
The US-Israel war on Iran has sent oil prices soaring as Tehran effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz after being attacked.
Trump slammed Obama’s speech in a post on Truth Social on Sunday. “Obama was a grossly incompetent president. He paid off Iran with $billions and gave them a road to a nuclear weapon,” he said, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal.
Saudi emergency agency lifts danger alerts as Houthi attacks continue
The Saudi Civil Defence agency has lifted potential danger alerts issued for the regions of Taif and Jazan.
Alerts were sent out via mobile phones at 12:53pm (09:53 GMT).
“The danger has passed. … For your safety please continue to follow the instructions at civil defence and avoid gatherings and photography at all costs,” it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition says it destroyed Houthi ballistic missiles and drones fired at the kingdom as the Yemeni group warned travelers to avoid airports declaring them “military targets”.
Riyadh reopens international airport as Houthi attacks persist
Saudi Arabia has reopened its main airport for international flights two weeks after deadly strikes by the Houthis knocked the facility out of service.
Terminals 1 and 2 of King Khalid international airport resumed domestic and international flights today, it announced, even as the Houthis continued to fire drones and missiles towards the Saudi capital.
Last week, the Riyadh airport opened to limited domestic flights.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the facility is still “unsafe”.
Saree warned “all international, regional and local airlines – as well as staff and travellers – against using” Riyadh airport as it is “unsafe and serves as a military target for our forces”.
Qatar PM and Turkiye FM discuss Gulf freedom of maritime navigation
Qatar’s prime minister has held a phone call with Turkiye’s foreign minister.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani discussed diplomatic efforts with Hakan Fidan to de-escalate tensions and “promote security and stability” in the region.
Fidan highlighted efforts to reach “a solution that ensures freedom of maritime navigation” and an agreement on “sustainable peace in the region”.
Iran has repeatedly attacked and threatened tankers attempting to sail through the Strait of Hormuz without “authorisation”, impeding energy exports to global markets from neighbouring Gulf countries.
Source: Al Jazeera