Trump Hopeful of Iran Deal Amid Tehran’s War Warning

Khamenei Cautions US Attack Could Ignite Regional Conflict

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said he was hopeful of reaching a deal with Iran, even after the country’s supreme leader warned that any US attack on the Islamic Republic could trigger a wider regional war.

Following Iran’s deadly crackdown on anti-government protests last month, US President Donald Trump has threatened military action and ordered the deployment of a US aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East, escalating US-Iran tensions.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday described the recent protests as a ‘coup’ and warned that any US attack could trigger a wider regional conflict.

The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war,’ Iran’s Supreme Leader said, urging Iranians not to fear Trump’s rhetoric.

"They (rioters) attacked the police, government centres, IRGC centres, banks, and mosques, and burned the Koran[...] It was like a coup," Khamenei said, adding that "the coup was suppressed".

Khamenei said the rioters attacked police, government and IRGC centers, banks, and mosques, even burning the Koran, describing the unrest as ‘like a coup’ that has now been suppressed.

To a question about the Iranian leader's warning, US President told reporters: "Of course he is going to say that. "Hopefully we'll make a deal. If we don't make a deal, then we'll find out whether or not he was right," he said.

Iranian authorities nonetheless ordered the release of detained 26-year-old protester Erfan Soltani on bail, his lawyer said on Sunday, after Washington warned he was on death row and threatened an attack if any anti-government demonstrators were executed.

He was arrested in January for what Iran's judiciary said were charges of propaganda against Iran's Islamic system and acting against national security.

Washington had warned he was due to be executed, though Tehran said he had never been sentenced to death and that the charges against him did not carry the death penalty.

Amid rising tensions between Iran and the US, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Sunday expressed concern over potential ‘miscalculations’ but said he believed US President Donald Trump was ‘wise enough to make the right decision.’ Araghchi added that Iran has lost trust in the United States as a negotiating partner, noting that several regional countries are acting as intermediaries to help rebuild confidence.