Kathmandu: Iran has firmly stated that its missile and defense capabilities will not be subject to any negotiations, despite US President Donald Trump saying he has no intention of taking military action against Tehran. Tensions between the two countries have escalated after Trump threatened to intervene in recent protests in Iran and announced the deployment of US warships to the Middle East.

Although President Trump said on Thursday night that he was open to talks to ease tensions, the United States and its Western allies continue to pressure Iran over its nuclear program, demanding limits on uranium enrichment and missile development.

Speaking during a visit to Turkey, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and equal footing. However, he made it clear that Iran will not compromise on its defense and missile capabilities under any circumstances.

US officials have reportedly set conditions for any new agreement, including restrictions on Iran’s long-range missile stockpile and a ban on independent uranium enrichment. Serhan Afkan, Director of the Center for Iranian Studies in Ankara, described Iran’s ballistic missile program as a “red line,” making any agreement on that issue highly unlikely.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressed the importance of dialogue between Washington and Tehran to reduce regional tensions. He also claimed that Israel is pressuring the US to take military action against Iran and urged restraint.

Iran has blamed the United States and Israel for fueling the protests that began in December and intensified in January. According to the human rights group HRANA, at least 6,479 people, including 118 children, have been killed, while Iranian authorities estimate the death toll at around 3,000.