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IRAN’S FOREIGN MINISTER Abbas Araghchi today said his country would keep fighting as long as necessary, after US President Donald Trump insisted that the war would end “soon.”
It comes as Iranian forces have said that they will not allow the export of oil from the region to the United States or its “partners” in the Middle East as long as the war continues.
Araghchi also ruled out negotiations with the US, as Tehran yesterday launched a new wave of attacks on US-allied Gulf nations hours after Trump’s assurances of a swift end to the rapidly widening conflict.
The Iranian minister said that in the past Iranians had “a very bitter experience of talking with Americans.”
Trump’s comments helped reverse the stock market slumps and oil price jumps of a day earlier, with oil prices down as much as 5%, a day after crude oil rocketed past $100 a barrel.
“We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough,” Trump said.
“We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some people. And I think you’ll see it’s going to be a short-term excursion,” Trump said in a speech.
Trump: "We took a little excursion because we felt we had to do that to get rid of some evil. I think you'll see it's going to be a short-term excursion. Short term. Short term!" pic.twitter.com/PvuBBGiMJV
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 9, 2026
He threatened an attack of “incalculable” size if Tehran blocks oil supplies.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also responded to Trump that they would “determine the end of the war”.
Recalling previous US attacks during earlier negotiations, he said: “I don’t think talking with Americans anymore would be on our agenda.”
Early this morning, Iranian attacks again targeted Gulf nations.
The United Arab Emirates said it was “currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran,” while in Bahrain citizens were told to take shelter as sirens sounded.
Both Saudi Arabia and Kuwait also said they had intercepted and destroyed drones.
In Iran, local media reported fresh attacks in the capital and Khomein, and Israel said it had struck an Iranian missile launcher shortly after an Iranian barrage that triggered warnings in several parts of Israel.
The war has spiralled far beyond Iran’s borders, dragging in not only its Gulf neighbours but also Lebanon, where Israel carried out fresh strikes on yesterday.
Lebanese authorities said Monday that Israeli attacks since 2 March have killed at least 486 people and wounded at least 1,313.
AFP has not been able to carry out a detailed breakdown of the figures.
Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war when Iran-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel after the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has accused Hezbollah of working to “collapse” the state, while the head of the group’s parliamentary bloc said it had “no other option… than the option of resistance.”
Israeli strikes and ground incursions have pushed hundreds of thousands of Lebanese from their homes, with more than 660,000 registered as displaced, according to government figures.
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