Iran crisis: foreign minister says country ready for negotiations but also ‘fully prepared for war’

Abbas Araghchi warns adversaries against ‘miscalculation’ as Trump mulls military response to protest crackdown‘The streets are full of blood’: Iranian protests gather momentum as regime cracks downIranian student killed during protests was shot in head ‘from close range’Analysis: Unpredictable Trump weighs up Iranian pleas for help against calls for restraintChina has said it opposes the use of force in international relations and said it hopes the Iranian government and public are “able to overcome the current difficulties and maintain national stability”.Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said this morning that Beijing:Always opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs, maintains that the sovereignty and security of all countries should be fully protected under international law, and opposes the use or threat of use of force in international relations.A major intervention by Washington, some are warning, will only fuel the fire of an Iranian government narrative that the protests are being manipulated as part of an anti-Islamic plot being led by the US and Israel.Trump has promised that he will “shoot at Iran” if Iranian security services attack protesters; however, analysts suggested the speed of the crisis meant his team has no developed response ready. Continue reading...