Iran warns of “war of attrition” if talks fail: mixed signals from Tehran after the Araghchi–Witkoff meeting

Tehran is sending mixed signals amid diplomatic efforts to end the war with the United States. Iranian state television confirmed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in New York — at the request of the American side — in a meeting where Iran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz were clarified and conveyed.

Al Jazeera journalist Tohid Asadi, reporting from Tehran, says that various Iranian diplomatic and security sources state that Iran’s conditions and demands have not changed. A security source told Al Jazeera that if the U.S. meets its commitments regarding the Iranian demands and offers practical and sufficient guarantees, Iran could be flexible enough to enter into further commitments.

But alongside its readiness for diplomacy, Iran’s joint military staff declared yesterday that in the event of escalation, Iran is prepared to retaliate in an even stronger way — something that, according to the Iranians, could go beyond the borders of the region. That would mean a “war of attrition” if the negotiations fail.

These contradictory signals come at a critical moment: the U.S. has stepped up economic and military pressure on Tehran, while the leaders of both countries are in New York for the UN General Assembly.

Source: Al Jazeera