Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned it would 'change the geography of the war' if the US escalates the conflict, after President Donald Trump raised the prospect of 'wiping Iran out' in a Fox News interview.
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Key facts
- Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps warned it would 'change the geography of the war' if the US escalates.
- Trump told Fox News he was considering 'wiping Iran out, letting them rot economically or making a deal.'
- Trump used his UN General Assembly speech to push his narrative of the war.
- Tehran said it is prepared to reopen the strait of Hormuz within seven days if the US takes reciprocal steps.
- Iran had previously set seven pre-conditions for lifting the blockade, including an end to war on all fronts.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that it would “change the geography of the war” if the United States escalates the conflict, according to the Guardian. The warning came after US President Donald Trump issued fresh threats against the Islamic Republic in the run-up to the United Nations General Assembly.
In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Trump said “very big things are going to be happening in the not-so-distant future.” He described the options he was considering as “wiping Iran out, letting them rot economically or making a deal,” the Guardian reported.
Trump used his speech to the UN General Assembly to push his narrative of the war, the outlet said. He also indicated that he believed Iran would ultimately make a deal after the US midterm elections.
Tehran appears to have softened its stance on the strait of Hormuz. According to the Guardian, Iran said it is prepared to reopen the strategic waterway within seven days, so long as the US takes reciprocal steps to ease pressure on the country.
The apparent shift represents a relaxation of Iran’s earlier position. Previously, Iran had set seven onerous pre-conditions for lifting the blockade, including “an end to war on all fronts” and a commitment by the US to cease all aggressive actions against Iran, including sanctions.
The exchange of threats and signals unfolded against the backdrop of the UN General Assembly, where world leaders gathered as tensions between Washington and Tehran remained high.
Why it matters
The strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important shipping routes for oil, so a blockade or its lifting carries global economic consequences. Escalating rhetoric between the US and Iran raises the risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East, while Tehran's softened conditions hint at a possible diplomatic opening.
Frequently asked questions
What did Trump say he was considering doing about Iran?
In a Fox News interview on Sunday, Trump said the options he was considering were 'wiping Iran out, letting them rot economically or making a deal,' according to the Guardian.
What condition has Iran set for reopening the strait of Hormuz?
Tehran said it is prepared to reopen the strait within seven days, so long as the US takes reciprocal steps to ease pressure on Iran, the Guardian reported.
How has Iran's position on the blockade changed?
Iran appears to have relaxed its stance. Previously it had set seven pre-conditions for lifting the blockade, including an end to war on all fronts and a US commitment to cease all aggressive actions, including sanctions.
Timeline
- Middle East crisis live: Trump says Iran will make a deal after US midterms
The Guardian World: US president uses speech to UN General Assembly to push his narrative of the war Tehran appears to have relaxed its preconditions for reopening the strait of Hormuz, saying it is prepared to do so within seven days so long as the US takes reciprocal steps to ease the pressure on
- Middle East crisis live: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warns it will ‘change geography of war’ if US escalates conflict
The Guardian World: The US president said in an interview ahead of the United Nations meeting that he was considering ‘wiping Iran out’ Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps warned it would “change the geography of the war” if the US escalates the conflict, after Donald Trump issued fresh threats against