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Iran: Behind Trump’s Threat, an Opportunity

An Iranian woman jumps over a flame in celebration of the last week of the Persian year in Tehran (AP)
An Iranian woman jumps over a flame in celebration of the last week of the Persian year in Tehran (AP)
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Iran: Behind Trump’s Threat, an Opportunity

An Iranian woman jumps over a flame in celebration of the last week of the Persian year in Tehran (AP)
An Iranian woman jumps over a flame in celebration of the last week of the Persian year in Tehran (AP)

- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described US President Donald Trump’s message as a “threat that contains an opportunity,” confirming that Tehran is evaluating its response through “appropriate channels” and will respond soon.

In recent days, Washington and Tehran have exchanged indirect messages to gauge the possibility of negotiations. While Trump pursues a policy of “maximum pressure,” Iran refuses to engage in talks under what it calls “threats and intimidation.”

Speaking on Thursday, Araghchi stated that Iran would respond to Trump’s message but is “not in a hurry.” He added: “Since it is Nowruz and Ramadan, we are not rushing to reply, but it won’t take too long. We will respond in the coming days.”

According to the government-affiliated Mehr News Agency, Araghchi noted that Trump’s message contains both “threats and claims of opportunities.” He explained: “We are carefully analyzing every angle and point in Trump’s message, and our response will take into account all aspects of both the threats and the opportunities.”

Araghchi reiterated that Tehran rejects direct negotiations with Washington “under pressure and intensified sanctions,” stating: “Our policy is indirect negotiations as long as the threats continue... We are prepared for war, but we do not welcome it. The coming year will be difficult, significant, and complex.”

Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani confirmed that Trump’s message to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is “under review” and that a “suitable response” will be given at the appropriate time and in a manner deemed appropriate.

Speaking to the ILNA news agency, Mohajerani added that the government currently has no plans to disclose the contents of Trump’s message.

Last week, Khamenei rejected Trump’s message, calling it a “deception” and arguing that his excessive demands would “tighten the noose of sanctions around Iran and increase pressure on the country.”

Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers during his first presidential term and reimposed sanctions on Iran. Since then, Iran has violated the deal’s limits on its nuclear program, prompting Western powers to accuse Tehran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons by enriching uranium to 60% purity—well beyond what is considered necessary for a civilian nuclear program.

Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and that it remains committed to its obligations under international law.

On March 21, 2025 (Friday), Iranians will celebrate the arrival of the year 1404 in their calendar, along with nearly 300 million people worldwide, including communities in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Kurdish regions of Iraq and Türkiye.

Trump extended Nowruz greetings to Iranians, expressing his “appreciation for Iran’s rich culture and the outstanding talents of its people in various fields,” according to a message released by the White House on March 19.

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Gabbard Calls Signal Chats a ‘Mistake’ as Trump Officials Face Grilling over Leaked Military Plan

(L-R) Director of the National Security Agency, Gen. Timothy Haugh; FBI Director, Kash Patel; Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard; CIA Director, John Ratcliffe; and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse testify before a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on "Worldwide Threats," on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2025. (AFP)
(L-R) Director of the National Security Agency, Gen. Timothy Haugh; FBI Director, Kash Patel; Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard; CIA Director, John Ratcliffe; and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse testify before a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on "Worldwide Threats," on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2025. (AFP)
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Gabbard Calls Signal Chats a ‘Mistake’ as Trump Officials Face Grilling over Leaked Military Plan

(L-R) Director of the National Security Agency, Gen. Timothy Haugh; FBI Director, Kash Patel; Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard; CIA Director, John Ratcliffe; and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse testify before a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on "Worldwide Threats," on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2025. (AFP)
(L-R) Director of the National Security Agency, Gen. Timothy Haugh; FBI Director, Kash Patel; Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard; CIA Director, John Ratcliffe; and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse testify before a House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on "Worldwide Threats," on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on March 26, 2025. (AFP)

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Wednesday it was a "mistake" for national security officials to discuss sensitive military plans on a group text chain that also included a journalist — a leak that has roiled President Donald Trump's national security leadership.

Speaking before the House Intelligence Committee, Gabbard said the conversation included "candid and sensitive" information about military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen. But as she told senators during testimony on Tuesday, she said the texts did not contain any classified information.

"It was a mistake that a reporter was inadvertently added," Gabbard said.

Wednesday's hearing was called to discuss an updated report on national security threats facing the US Instead, much of the focus was on the text chain, which included Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance and other top officials.

Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was also added, and on Wednesday his publication released more details from the chats, showing the level of detail they offered about the strikes.

Democrats have demanded an investigation into the sloppy communication, saying it may have exposed sensitive military information that could have jeopardized the mission or put US service members at risk.

The National Security Council has said it will investigate the matter, which Trump on Tuesday downplayed as a "glitch." Goldberg said he received the Signal invitation from Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, who was in the group chat and has taken responsibility for the lapse.

Even though the texts contained detailed information on military actions, Gabbard, Ratcliffe and the White House have all said none of the information was classified — an assertion Democrats flatly rejected on Wednesday.

"You all know that's a lie," Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, told Ratcliffe and Gabbard, who said that any decisions to classify or declassify military information falls to the secretary of defense.

Several Democrats on the panel said Hegseth should resign because of the leak.

"This is classified information. It’s a weapon system, as well as a sequence of strikes, as well as details of the operations," said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois. "He needs to resign immediately."

Ratcliffe defended his use of Signal as "appropriate" and said questions over the Signal leak have overshadowed the military operation targeting the Houthis.

"What is most important is that the mission was a remarkable success," he told lawmakers. "That’s what did happen, not what possibly could have happened."

The discussion at times grew heated as Ratcliffe and Democratic lawmakers spoke over one another. At one point, Rep. Jimmy Gomez, an Illinois Democrat, asked whether he knew whether Hegseth was drinking alcohol when he participated in the chat.

"I think that’s an offensive line of questioning," Ratcliffe angrily replied. "The answer is no."

Ratcliffe and Gomez then began shouting over each other as Gomez sought to ask a follow-up question. "We want to know if his performance is compromised," Gomez said.

Wednesday's hearing was called to discuss the intelligence community's annual report on threats to American national security. The report lists China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as strategic adversaries, and notes that drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations pose other threats to Americans.

The presentations from top Trump appointees reflect Trump's foreign policy priorities, including a focus on combating the flow of fentanyl, illegal immigration and human trafficking, and are taking place as Trump attempts to work out a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine three years after Russia's invasion.