Iran accuses US of ‘hostile and criminal behavior,’ says Trump’s call for dialogue inconsistent

Iran’s foreign ministry criticizes US President Donald Trump’s call for dialogue, accusing Washington of “hostile and criminal behavior” following his remarks to the Knesset about being ready to strike a deal with Tehran.

“The desire for peace and dialogue expressed by the US president is at odds with the hostile and criminal behavior of the United States toward the Iranian people,” the statement reads.

In June, the US joined Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities after five rounds of indirect nuclear talks with Tehran that stalled over issues including nuclear enrichment.

Trump told the Knesset yesterday that Iran “took a big hit” in the 12-day war, but that it would be great if a peace deal could be hammered out between Iran and Israel.

Israel said its sweeping assault on Iran’s top military leaders, nuclear scientists, uranium enrichment sites and ballistic missile program was necessary to prevent the Islamic Republic from realizing its avowed plan to destroy Israel.

Iran has consistently denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. However, it enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities. Israel said Iran had recently taken steps toward weaponization.

Iran retaliated to Israel’s strikes by launching over 500 ballistic missiles and around 1,100 drones at Israel.

The attacks killed 32 people in Israel — the most recent death was yesterday when 76-year-old Aharon Mizrahi succumbed to his wounds sustained in a missile strike in Ramat Gan — and injured over 3,000.