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)

London: Asharq Al Awsat

08:26-21 March 2025 AD ـ 22 Ramadan 1446 AH

London: Asharq Al Awsat

08:26-21 March 2025 AD ـ 22 Ramadan 1446 AH

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)

- 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.

Iran Rejects France’s ‘Baseless Accusations’ on Cyberattack

Empty refrigerated shelves are seen inside a Delhaize Shop & Go store after an overnight IT incident affected cooling and freezer systems in a number of Delhaize stores in Belgium and Luxembourg, causing temperature spikes in refrigeration units, in Linkebeek near Brussels, Belgium, November 2, 2026. (Reuters)

17:57-10 November 2026 AD ـ 30 Jumada Al-Ula 1448 AH

Iran Rejects France’s ‘Baseless Accusations’ on Cyberattack

Iran on Tuesday said French accusations that it was responsible for cyberattacks on supermarket fridges last month were "baseless".

"Iran's foreign ministry categorically rejects the French government's baseless and one-sided accusations against Iran regarding alleged cyber activities in France," the ministry said in a statement.

It added that it "strongly condemns this hackneyed policy of leveling accusations against the country".

Hundreds of French supermarkets were hit in the October 11 and 12 cyberattacks, which raised the temperatures in their refrigerators and freezers, forcing many to throw away entire inventories of perishable food.

Similar incidents were then reported in at least 11 other European countries in early November.

Along with summoning Iran's ambassador and seeking European-level sanctions, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Tuesday that Paris would "rule nothing out and will take all measures -- including those we may not disclose publicly -- that we deem proportionate and necessary to deter any further attacks".

Tehran, meanwhile, said it would "not hesitate to take necessary and appropriate measures to safeguard its national interests and security in the face of unlawful foreign activities".

It added that France "is merely projecting its own governance failures" with these accusations.

Later in the day, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi blamed the French government for the incident.

"Unable to manage fridges let alone addressing grievances of its people, French government is shifting blame for its failures onto others," the top diplomat said on X.

Also on Tuesday, the European Union said it would look to provide a "swift and united response" pending discussion with member states after France's announcement.

World

Israel’s Parliament Sworn in as Eisenkot Tries to Forge a Government

Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and other Israeli officials pose for a family photo on the day of the inauguration of Israel's 26th parliament, at the Knesset in Jerusalem, November 10, 2026. (Reuters)

17:42-10 November 2026 AD ـ 30 Jumada Al-Ula 1448 AH

Israel’s Parliament Sworn in as Eisenkot Tries to Forge a Government

Israel's parliament was sworn in on Tuesday without a new government, after a deadlocked general election stripped Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his parliamentary majority but left his main rivals with no clear path to power.

Lawmakers elected in the October 27 vote took their oaths of office as Gadi Eisenkot, a former general, sought to forge a coalition after Israel's president tasked him on Sunday with forming a government.

Eisenkot and his allies also lack a majority and he has yet to strike deals with parties that could bring him to power. If both Eisenkot and Netanyahu fail to form coalitions, another election could follow.

Presiding over the swearing-in ceremony, President Isaac Herzog told lawmakers: "You must do everything to avoid a repeat election."

"Reach out a hand for compromise, even between rivals... Look ‌upon one another with ‌generosity. There is much work to be done here, and it requires the ‌ability ⁠and experience found ⁠in every part of this House."

PARLIAMENT COULD TRY TO SET UP OCTOBER 7 INQUIRY

Netanyahu remains caretaker prime minister until a new candidate manages to form a coalition. His right-wing Likud party's alliance with far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties outperformed election expectations but still lost its majority, now holding 53 of the Knesset's 120 seats.

Eisenkot's center-right Yashar party and patchwork partner factions hold just 48 seats. But they have potential allies in Israel's Arab-led parties, which hold 19 seats and are aligned with Eisenkot in their vehement opposition to Netanyahu.

This means that the newly sworn-in parliament could still deliver on some of Eisenkot's campaign promises, such as potentially setting ⁠up a commission of inquiry into the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, something backed ‌by the Arab parties but largely opposed by Netanyahu.

It also could allow ‌Eisenkot to replace the current Knesset speaker, a Likud member.

Herzog told Knesset members that parliament was "duty bound to leave no stone unturned" ‌in investigating and understanding the "catastrophe" of October 7, while Israel continues to face threats from Iran and its proxies.

Eisenkot ‌initially has until December 6 to form a government but he can seek a two-week extension to December 20. He has acknowledged his path to power is "extraordinarily complex".

His options include trying to form a minority government with Arab party support, bringing ultra-Orthodox parties into his camp despite years of mutual hostility, or forging a unity government with Netanyahu. All three paths face formidable obstacles.

Ultra-Orthodox parties have so ‌far said they would not join an Eisenkot-led government.

For his part, Netanyahu has cast doubt on the election results by baselessly alleging voter fraud by Arabs, who make ⁠up a fifth of the population. ⁠Election officials have said they are probing potential misconduct, but that they have seen no evidence of fraud that could have influenced the vote's outcome.

Speaking after parliament was sworn in, Netanyahu called for a unity government, warning that Iran was seeking to revive its nuclear program and that Israel could come under growing international pressure to accept a nuclear-armed Iran.

"Only such a (unity) government will be capable of confronting challenges of this magnitude," he said.

If Eisenkot fails to form a government, Herzog would likely ask Netanyahu to try to build a coalition. If he also fails, another candidate would get a chance before Israel would be forced into another election.

Moments after the official opening of parliament, Eisenkot and his allies submitted a series of bills, including legislation to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attacks and to impose term limits on the prime minister. They also proposed repealing a controversial judicial overhaul and other laws enacted under Netanyahu's government over the past four years.

Among those sworn in on Tuesday was Elisha Madan, a military reservist who lost both legs fighting in Gaza. He received a standing ovation from lawmakers as he rose on his prosthetic legs to take the oath of office.

World

Paraguay Partially Reimburses Almost All Bank Crisis Victims

The interior of a closed Ueno Bank's office, which Paraguay's central bank seized amid a solvency crisis, is seen through its window that broken last week during a protest against the government and the bank in Asuncion, Paraguay, Monday, Nov. 9 , 2026. (AP)

17:37-10 November 2026 AD ـ 30 Jumada Al-Ula 1448 AH

Paraguay Partially Reimburses Almost All Bank Crisis Victims

Almost all eligible depositors who lost access to their money in a bank seizure that rocked Paraguay have had part of their funds reimbursed, the Central Bank said Tuesday.

The November 3 takeover of Ueno Bank amid major insolvency concerns locked almost half the population of the normally stable country out of their accounts.

Senators impeached President Santiago Pena, who is linked to Ueno, over the crisis -- a key demand of large-scale nationwide protests along with the return of the money.

The government, now led by Pena's former vice president Pedro Alliana, sped up the return of deposits via a guarantee fund.

Ninety-three percent of eligible depositors had been at least partially reimbursed via the fund as of Monday, its director Jose Maciel told a press conference.

"They finally transferred the money I was missing," 45-year-old Rosario, who preferred not to give her surname, told AFP.

Between Thursday and Monday, $340 million had been reimbursed to nearly 1.7 million people, according to Central Bank data.

The bank has identified 1,867,000 Ueno clients entitled to access the guarantee fund, its press office told AFP, without specifying how many people do not qualify.

Ueno began as a small fintech company with a digital-first model that attracted many low-income customers.

Within three years it became a major bank handling state pensions and the accounts of several government entities.

The number of individuals affected by the crisis surpasses the number of direct clients of the bank, which held over $800 million in public funds.

Iran: Behind Trump’s Threat, an Opportunity

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