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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday it will continue increasing the country's defensive capabilities, and will not surrender to pressure over its missile programme.
"(Iran’s) missile programme has turned into the main challenge of the enemies of the Iranian nation, especially the United States, the Zionist regime (of Israel) and the Saudi rulers...
"Increasing defensive capabilities will remain the main strategy of the armed forces," the IRGC said in a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Wednesday proposed measures against U.S. dominance in global finance amid a growing row between Washington and Berlin over the Iran nuclear deal.In an article he wrote for daily Handelsblatt, Maas slammed American President Donald Trump for imposing unilateral sanctions on Iran, without consulting European allies.“It is essential that we strengthen European autonomy by establishing payment channels independent of the U.S., a European monetary fund and an independent SWIFT [payment] system,” he said.Maas also called on EU partners to maintain their unity and pursue a common policy towards the U.S. in the ongoing row over sanctions.“In this situation, it is of strategic importance that we make it clear to Washington that we want to work together."But also: That we will not allow you to go over our heads, and at our expense. That is why it was right to protect European companies legally from sanctions,” he said.Germany pledges up to 340 mln euros in farm aid after droughtAfter Trump attack on Russia ties, Merkel eyes Azeri gasUS deports Nazi war crimes suspect to GermanyFormer German minister slams Trump’s Turkey policy
Germany calls for end to US dominance in global finance
U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton reaffirmed on Wednesday that the United States was not seeking a change of government in Iran."Just to be clear, regime change in Iran is not American policy. But what we want is massive change in the regime's behaviour," Bolton told a news conference in Jerusalem, where he has held talks with Israeli leaders.Bolton, who has in the past suggested the U.S. government should push for a change in government in Iran, said in May that that was not part of the Trump administration's policy.Iran cleric says Israel and US will be targeted if Washington attacksRouhani says US doesn't dare to attack IranIran to continue cooperating with Turkey: FM spokesmanIran says France's Total has officially left South Pars dealIran tells EU to speed up efforts to save nuclear deal
Bolton reaffirms US not seeking regime change in Iran
A senior Iranian cleric warned Washington on Wednesday that if it attacked Iran, the United States and allied Israel would be targeted, as a war of words escalated after the reimposition of the U.S. sanctions on Iran.Ahmad Khatami also told worshippers attending Eid prayers in Tehran that President Donald Trump’s offer of talks with Iranian leaders was unacceptable, as the U.S. leader wanted Tehran to concede on its missile programme and regional influence."Americans say you should accept what we say in the talks. So this is not negotiation, but dictatorship. The Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation would stand up against dictatorship," Khatami was quoted as saying by Mizan news agency."The price of a war with Iran is very high for America. They know if they harm this country and this state in the slightest way, the United States and its main ally in the region, the Zionist regime (of Israel) would be targeted," Khatami said.Khatami did not elaborate which forces would carry out such attacks, but Iran has said it could target Israeli cities with its missiles if it is threatened. Iran also has proxies in the region, including Lebanon's Hezbollah group.Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that the Islamic Republic's military prowess was what deterred Washington from attacking it, and vowed to boost Iran's military might.The Trump administration slapped sanctions back on Iran this month after withdrawing from the 2015 international nuclear deal with Iran, saying it was too soft on Tehran and would not stop it developing a nuclear bomb.Washington imposed new sanctions in August, targeting Iran's car industry, trade in gold and other precious metals, and purchases of U.S. dollars. Trump has said the United States will issue another round of tougher sanctions in November that will target Iran's oil sales and banking sector.Trump's national security adviser told Reuters on Wednesday that the U.S. president wanted maximum pressure on Iran."There should not be any doubt that the United States wants this resolved peacefully, but we are fully prepared for any contingency that Iran creates,” John Bolton said.Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has rejected Trump's offer of unconditional talks on a new nuclear deal, prompting Trump to tell Reuters in an interview on Monday: "If they want to meet, that's fine, and if they don't want to meet, I couldn't care less." Rouhani says US doesn't dare to attack IranIran to continue cooperating with Turkey: FM spokesmanIran says France's Total has officially left South Pars deal
Iran cleric says Israel and US will be targeted if Washington attacks