Defiant Iran says it can 'easily' hit US ships, works to counter sanctions | IOL News

DUBAI - Iran said on Friday it could "easily" hit U.S. warships in the Gulf, the latest in days of saber rattling between Washington and Tehran, while its top diplomat worked to counter U.S. sanctions and salvage a nuclear deal denounced by President Donald Trump.

"America cannot afford the costs of a new war, and the country is in a bad situation in terms of manpower and social conditions," he added. "We think they should de-escalate and come to negotiations," the official, who declined to be identified, told a small group of reporters. Senior lawmaker Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh called on Twitter for an Iran-U.S. "red desk" to help prevent a war.

Trump believes the economic pressure will force Tehran to accept tougher restrictions on its nuclear and missile programs and on its support for proxies in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. He has said publicly he wants to pursue diplomacy after withdrawing from the deal and moving to cut all Iranian oil exports.

"If the international community feels that this accord is a valuable achievement, then it should take practical steps just like Iran does," Zarif said on Iranian state television. "The meaning of practical steps is fully clear: Iran's economic relations should be normalised."

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