"Iran To US: Any New Aggression Will Extend War 'Beyond The Region"

THE REPORT.

TEHRAN/WASHINGTON:Iran has issued a big warning to the US after President Donald Trump announced a pause in American strikes to allow diplomacy, with Tehran saying its military remains on "highest level of readiness".

IRAN'S WARNING:

Iranian officials warned that if the US resumes attacks, Tehran will "open new fronts against it, with new equipment and new methods".A senior Iranian source told Reuters: "Iran’s position remains ‘attack for attack’: if the attacks stop, Iran will also halt its operations".But the source added: *"However, Iran is prepared to mount a broad response should the US launch another attack".

Iran's Revolutionary Guards also said: "If aggression against Iran is repeated, the promised regional war will extend beyond the region this time".

State media reported that Iranian military officials dismissed Trump's claim that Tehran sought to halt attacks as "a new lie" aimed at pressuring Gulf Arab states. 0fae

TRUMP PAUSES STRIKES FOR TALKS:

President Trump said on Monday the US was having "good talks" with Iran and there was a chance of a deal. c98a

Washington abruptly suspended a two-week campaign of air strikes against Iran on Saturday. Trump said he halted strikes after Gulf mediators asked him to "Don't fire". 

"We're having good talks... I think there's a good chance that something could happen, and if it doesn't, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago". 

He also warned: "If they don't work out, we will go back to very strong military action", adding "Not much time. Either it goes fast or not at all".

US officials said the pause also came amid concerns over dwindling stocks of Patriot and other air defense interceptors

CURRENT SITUATION:

After 13 nights of US strikes, both sides have held fire for two days. Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for 20% of the world's oil and LNG, while the US has imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports. 

Iran's Foreign Ministry said there had been no direct contact between Tehran and Washington, and that Trump's claim was aimed at "lowering energy prices and buying time".

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