Iran's foreign minister says if war breaks out it won't be a 'limited one'
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran does not plan on starting a war, but they will finish one if a conflict should eventually happen.
In an interview airing on Sunday's edition of CBS' Face the Nation, host Margaret Brennan asked Zarif if he was "confident" that Iran could avoid a war. Zarif was pretty forthright in his response, simply responding "no." He did add that he is confident Tehran will not start a conflict, however. But he said "whoever starts one will not be the one who finishes it." When Brennan asked him to clarify, Zarif said that he means if a war does break out it will not be a "limited" one.
Zarif also criticized the United States' decision to send more troops to the Gulf region in a speech, describing it as "posturing." Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhi had some harsh words Sunday for the U.S., as well, calling the decision a "disaster" and urging foreign forces to stay out of the region. "If they're sincere, then they should not make our region the site of an arms race," he said during a speech. "The farther you keep yourselves from our region and our nations, the more security there will be."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In the same speech, he did say that Iran would present a peace initiative at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, though he gave few details.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Eurovision 2024: how is politics playing out in Sweden?
Today's big question World's most popular song contest 'has always been politically charged' but 'this year perhaps more so than ever'
By The Week UK Published
-
'Trump's Tahoe tryst'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
In the fold with Gergei Erdei
The Blend Artist explains his foray into precious folding screens
By Mary Cleary Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published