Iran says it has zero trust in Trump, expects fireworks tonight

Not just Iran, but several governments appear to be bracing for a possible escalation of what they describe as an unprovoked war on Iran, preparing their populations for potential economic and energy shocks.

The European Union has advised citizens to work from home where possible, drive less, reduce energy consumption, and be ready for possible rationing. The United States has urged people to limit non-essential travel, while Japan and South Korea have asked industries to improve energy efficiency.

In separate addresses on Wednesday, 1 April, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Australian PM Anthony Albanese also warned citizens to prepare for difficult days ahead, signalling expectations of worsening energy pressures and economic disruption.

Military analysts in the US have pointed to a series of statements that appear to suggest further developments in the conflict. On 26 March, a three-star Marine general reportedly instructed 35,000 reservists to pack desert gear and prepare their families.

On 31 March, US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth said “decisive days” lay ahead in the war on Iran. The same day, President Donald Trump declared “we’ll be leaving very soon”, while Israel’s prime minister said Iran “has no ability to enrich uranium and no ability to produce ballistic missiles”. The mixed messaging has added to uncertainty — whether these are signals that the war may be winding down, or indications that a further escalation is imminent.

Iranian officials appear to believe the latter. Seyed Mohammad Marandi, a Tehran University professor often described as an unofficial spokesperson for the Iranian government, told Al Mayadeen that Tehran sees little value in negotiations while the United States is “preparing a land offensive”. https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/international/us-move-to-seize-irans-uranium-would-be-complex-high-risk-operation-experts

He warned that a global economic crisis is already emerging and could intensify in the coming weeks. Reflecting this concern, reports on Wednesday said Iranian missiles struck an Amazon data centre in Bahrain, which Iranian sources believe was being used to support US military operations.

Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi also elaborated on Tehran’s position in an interview with Al Jazeera on 31 March, excerpts of which were shared by Drop-site News.

Addressing concerns about negotiating under the threat of further attacks, Araghchi said: “We negotiated once and reached an agreement, but the US withdrew from it without reason. Last year and this year, we negotiated twice and the result were unprovoked attacks on us. Therefore, there is no trust that negotiation will lead to a result, and this trust is basically zero. We see no sincerity. There is no trust, and to build trust, major actions must be taken.”

On whether countries such as Pakistan, Egypt or Turkiye could offer guarantees, he said: “Experience has shown that the (UN) Security Council’s guarantee is not sufficient. Ideas have been proposed by our friends on how to create guarantees for a complete and lasting end to the war. We are reviewing them to see what guarantees could be effective if one day the war is to end under Iran’s conditions.”

Speaking about the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi said: “The Strait of Hormuz is located in the internal waters of Iran and Oman, not international waters. Therefore, naturally, the interests of Iran and Oman regarding passage through the Strait of Hormuz must be considered. Currently, the strait is open, but it is closed to ships of countries at war with us.

"Naturally, during wartime, we cannot allow our enemies to use our internal waters for passage… from our perspective, the Strait can be a peaceful waterway for the safe and calm passage of all countries, but ensuring the security of ships and their passage and environmental issues requires a joint mechanism between the coastal countries Iran and Oman.”

On the possibility of the US launching attacks on Iranian islands or undertaking a ground invasion, he said: “I have answered this question once before and said we are waiting. I don't think they dare to do such a thing. They will suffer heavy casualties; we know very well how to defend ourselves. In ground warfare, we are even more experienced and better equipped. We are fully prepared to counter any ground threat and have enough experience. We hope they do not make such a mistake.”

Asked about the timeline of four to six weeks mentioned by the US, Araghchi said Iran would not be bound by deadlines set by its adversaries: “We do not set any deadline for defending ourselves and will defend our country and people in any way and for as long as necessary. It does not matter to us what deadlines our enemies set for themselves. Of course, our advice is that before they suffer more damage, they should end this war completely and permanently.”

On whether Iran is prepared for a prolonged conflict, he replied: “At least six months!”

Addressing Iran’s ties with Gulf countries, the foreign minister acknowledged challenges in rebuilding trust but emphasised the need for regional cooperation. “I admit that we have a hard task ahead to build trust, but I am sure that given the goodwill on our side, the Islamic behaviour of the Arab countries, and the common goals, we can restore trust. We believe in friendly relations based on respect with the countries of the region. The security of the Persian Gulf must be ensured by the regional countries…

"The presence of American bases in the region disrupts security, and in the future, we must reach a joint decision to live securely together. Security requires a collective structure; one side cannot have security while the other does not.”