Iraqi: An Attack on Iran's Nuclear Facilities Would Be a Historic Mistake

The Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic warned in an interview with Al Jazeera aired on Friday that if there is an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, Tehran will respond immediately and decisively, leading to a "full-scale war in the region." Abbas Araghchi emphasized that a military attack by Israel and the United States on Iran's nuclear facilities would be "one of the greatest historical mistakes of America." In recent months, concerns have grown among Iranian officials that Donald Trump, if he wins the election and enters a second presidential term, may encourage Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attack Iran's nuclear sites while simultaneously intensifying oil sanctions against Tehran. These concerns, along with increasing domestic dissatisfaction due to economic problems, have raised the likelihood of Tehran moving towards negotiations with the Trump administration regarding its nuclear program. Araghchi suggested that the release of Iran's frozen assets could serve as an initial step to build trust between the two countries. He stated, "The U.S. has blocked Iran's assets in various locations and has not fulfilled its commitments to release them. This action could be the first step to build trust between us." In 2018, Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers and imposed severe sanctions on the Islamic Republic as part of a "maximum pressure" policy. In response, Tehran also violated its commitments under this agreement, including increasing its uranium enrichment level. During his campaign, Trump announced that if he returns to the White House, he would resume his previous policies and force Iran to accept a new agreement regarding its nuclear, missile, and regional activities through economic pressure. A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Thursday that Israel is closely monitoring the Islamic Republic of Iran's influence and said, "Our eyes are always focused on this issue. And if necessary, we know how to respond." Omer Dostri told the Jerusalem Post that he sees no change in Trump during his second presidential term compared to the first. When asked if a return to war in Gaza is inevitable, he responded that given the current circumstances, there is a possibility of returning to a full-scale conflict. The spokesperson for the Prime Minister of Israel refrained from providing further details but emphasized that Netanyahu and Trump share a common view regarding the Islamic Republic. He said, "The Prime Minister believes that Trump's aggressive policy during his previous administration should be re-implemented."