Trump says Iran wants talks; Ghalibaf calls war “existential”

Shafaq News- Washington/ Tehran (Updated at Jul. 16, 00:19)

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran was seeking talks with Washington despite an escalating US military campaign, while Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf described the conflict as an existential war but said diplomacy remained necessary to protect Iran's national interests.

Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, "We received a call while I was on my way here saying they want to meet," without identifying the Iranian side or disclosing details of the proposed talks. "Iran very much wants a settlement with the United States," Trump said, adding that Washington would decide whether to pursue negotiations.

In separate remarks to The Wall Street Journal, Trump said, "Iran wants to meet, and we'll see whether we make a deal." The newspaper also reported that Trump had discussed the possibility of seizing Iran's Kharg Island and other strategic locations, adding that he favored expanding US military operations.

Trump also noted that he would not rule out targeting Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) like the US campaign against ISIS.

On the Iranian side, Ghalibaf stressed that Tehran had never sought war but viewed the confrontation with the United States as “existential” because, he argued, Washington's objective was to overthrow the Iranian system and fragment the country. "We neither welcomed war nor will we ever welcome it, but we must always be ready for battle," Ghalibaf said. "At the same time, we must use diplomacy and negotiations to secure and protect our national interests."

The US military continued operations against Iranian targets. Earlier today, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it launched a second wave of strikes against military capabilities it said Iran uses to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM completed a 90-minute operation targeting coastal defense systems and cruise missile sites on Greater Tunb Island.

Iran's Health Ministry said 35 people had been killed and 300 injured since the latest US attacks began in the country's south.