US-Iran Tensions and Military Responses

Nadia, a very striking statement from Trump that for every ship targeted,

a facility or a bridge in Iran will be targeted.

And yesterday we were talking with you that indicators point to the possibility of an American escalation.

Are we still talking within the same framework today?

Yes, we are talking within the same framework, but more clearly, President Trump said today

indeed, that while every time there is a missile launch or

a drone, there will be an American response, and this response has a price tag on it.

A missile, there will be destruction of a bridge; a missile or a drone, there will be

destruction of a power generator or a power plant.

And therefore, he has become very clear regarding selecting targets and informing the Iranians.

He is not doing this in secret; he is doing this with a clear warning

very much aimed at deterring Iran from continuing to close the strait,

and continuing, from the United States' perspective, is an escalation by Iran.

Meaning, what it is doing is interpreted as attack and defense, and not just attack, by the way.

This is what the White House is focusing on and saying that this will continue.

Of course, a short while ago we saw the President at Dover Air Force Base, which is the well-known base that receives

the bodies of fallen soldiers from all over the world.

The President, along with the Secretary of Defense, went to receive them and said that they paid a price

with their lives to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Thus, he even justifies the death of the soldiers as being part of this battle by the United

States to prevent a nuclear Iran that threatens the security of

America, the security of the Gulf states, and the security of the world.

Therefore, I believe that military operations are ongoing, will be larger, and will have

even more of an impact, unless there is a response from Tehran.

Abdullah Khalouf, are there any signs of a response from Tehran in the meeting that took place between

the Iranian official, the Minister of Interior, and Pakistani officials?

Yes, indeed, there is no opinion, I mean...

There are signs, but indeed these signs can be divided into two parts: negative signs and

positive ones. The side was...

According to information, the Pakistani side expects greater flexibility and a greater

concession. He was waiting for Momeni's visit and had invited him

through Mohsin Naqvi to Islamabad, so that first he can test the waters and understand the ceiling

at which Iran or Tehran might stop. However,

bilateral talks and meetings, especially with security and military leaders, indicated that Iran

has flexibility and softness, and might agree to the proposal presented by Pakistan,

which it partnered on with Qatar, which

proposes a truce for ten or 14 days, a ceasefire, and a return to negotiations.

But on the other hand, Iran,

according to information, is unyielding in its positions, and this flexibility, even in light of

this escalation and the harsh blows it is receiving, still adheres to strict and ironclad conditions, which are:

First, it wants to lift the strikes or freeze the strikes in general on all

of its facilities and all of its axes.

even its ports. On the other hand, it also wants to return to talking about lifting sanctions

and restoring the waivers granted by Donald Trump, but without providing

a tangible commitment or guarantee to the Pakistani side. In return, the Pakistani side knows

full well that even if Tehran agreed to this idea and showed a little flexibility, the issue

is still subject to presentation to the US side. If Donald Trump does not approve it, then

there is no use. Also, this rigidity in the Iranian stance means it remains a major

obstacle. In fact, Eskandar Momeni does not hold the solution, and perhaps

the files were presented to him, the papers were placed on his table during his presence, and now he is waiting

to present these papers to his leadership, which is actually

already divided, and the cycle might repeat itself. At the same time, the visit carried

another character, which dominated this visit:

the attempt to strengthen agreements and open hotlines on the shared borders between

Iran and Pakistan, meaning it suggested to observers and analysts that Iran, up to this moment,

is not ready to return to the negotiation table and only wants to make sure that

its flank on the Pakistani side is secure, and it wants to

test Pakistan's stance, whether it is still neutral or not, but it seems the answer came today through

the condemnation issued by Pakistan, or the statement of condemnation released by Pakistan against

the Houthis and their threats.

Thank you very much, Abdullah Khalouf, Al Hadath correspondent from Islamabad, and thank you very much to Nadia Bilbassy, director of

Al Hadath's bureau in Washington.