Iran has warned the United States to “be careful” following a threat by President Donald Trump over Tehran’s support for armed groups in Lebanon.
The warning came as Iranian and US officials continued discussions in Switzerland aimed at addressing long-running disputes between both countries and finding a path toward reducing tensions in the Middle East.
The negotiations are expected to focus on a possible framework for resolving major disagreements between Washington and Tehran.
Tehran says military is ready
Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said the country’s armed forces were prepared to respond if necessary.
He warned that statements from the US should be made with caution, insisting that Iran would respond through actions rather than words.
His comments followed Trump’s warning that Iran should stop supporting groups he described as proxies in Lebanon.
Talks face major challenges
The discussions have been affected by disagreements over key issues, including regional security and ongoing tensions involving Lebanon.
Iran has insisted that progress toward a broader agreement cannot happen without addressing the conflict in Lebanon.
Iranian officials said issues surrounding the country’s nuclear programme were not discussed during the first round of talks.
However, Tehran’s nuclear activities remain one of the major concerns for the US and Israel.
Trump administration hopes for breakthrough
US Vice President JD Vance described the meeting as an opportunity to improve relations between both countries.
He questioned whether the discussions could lead to a major change in Middle East relations or whether previous tensions would continue.
The talks are taking place amid continued uncertainty over fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran maintains nuclear position
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran would continue defending its right to enrich uranium while denying that the country intends to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran also said discussions could include issues such as access to frozen assets and permission to sell oil internationally.
Meanwhile, tensions remain high as regional conflicts continue to affect diplomatic efforts.