As reported by the Jerusalem Post, an Iranian representative has made a notable statement regarding President Donald Trump’s latest visit to Türkiye, indicating that Tehran consciously chose not to respond to the US leader, despite having the chance to do so.
These remarks, made amidst rising tensions between Washington and Tehran, have added further uncertainty to a situation already marked by instability in the region.
Ezzatollah Zarghami, who is part of Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace and has previously served as a minister, accused Trump of overseeing military actions against Iran while present at the NATO meeting in Ankara.
In a post on X, Zarghami urged Iranian officials to call for Türkiye’s ambassador, writing: “Call the Turkish ambassador and give him a warning. The crazy Trump is instructing attacks against Iran from there.”
He then asserted that Iran chose to hold back due to its relationship with Türkiye.
Zarghami stated, “the assassin of our fallen leader” was within reach for a response, but Iran held off “in consideration of friendship and good neighborly ties,” referring to Türkiye.
These comments surfaced only hours after President Trump announced the end of the US-Iran ceasefire agreement following a new wave of American airstrikes on Iranian positions, signaling a return to military conflict over diplomacy.
Other hardline voices in Iran have echoed this sentiment. Reports indicate that lawmaker Hamid Rasaei mentioned Trump’s presence in Ankara as a chance to target him, while the Kayhan newspaper allegedly called for Trump to be sentenced to death. A channel connected to factions close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly shared a geolocation pin indicating where the US president was located during the summit.
These reported threats have overshadowed the NATO meeting, where global leaders gathered to discuss security and stability in the region.
According to the Associated Press, Trump authorized a fresh round of strikes against Iran soon after he exited a NATO leaders’ dinner in Ankara, which is unusual as such military directives are generally given when a US president has returned to their home country.
Trump subsequently dismissed claims that security concerns changed his travel plans but recognized the risks, stating to reporters that he was “No. 1 on their target list.”
With military actions escalating and political language becoming more aggressive, the already delicate dynamics between Washington and Tehran seem to drift further away from diplomatic solutions and closer to another dangerous phase of conflict.
Related video