The key facts

  • Abbas Araghchi: “We do not rule out the possibility of war breaking out and are ready for all scenarios”
  • Iran has modernized its weapons and eliminated weak points; forces are on heightened combat readiness
  • It was previously reported that Iran proposed, via Pakistan, to resume shipping in the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the blockade of ports

Statement by Iran's Foreign Minister

Iranian authorities do not rule out the outbreak of a full-scale war and are keeping their armed forces on heightened combat readiness. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced this on the Al Jazeera TV channel, reports Gazeta.Ru. “We do not rule out the possibility of war breaking out and are ready for all scenarios,” the outlet quoted him as saying.

On the modernization of weapons

According to Araghchi, Iran has modernized its weapons, eliminated weak points, and tested new types of armaments. The minister did not name any specific equipment.

Context around the Strait of Hormuz

The statement came against the backdrop of a tense situation around the Strait of Hormuz. As the same outlet previously reported, Iran conveyed via Pakistan a proposal to the US administration to reopen the strait in exchange for an end to the American blockade of Iranian ports; Tehran proposed resolving both issues — restoring shipping and lifting the blockade — at the diplomatic level. In addition, an oil tanker had earlier struck a minein the strait. No available publications report the US reaction to the Iranian proposal.