‘…We Are Waiting For Them,’ Araghchi Says in Reference to a Ground Invasion

CrossFireArabia
March 5, 2026

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is prepared to confront a potential ground invasion by the US, NBC News reported Thursday.

“No, we are waiting for them,” Araghchi said in a video interview when asked if he was afraid of a possible US ground invasion.

“Because we are confident that we can confront them, and that would be a big disaster for them,” he said, according to Anadolu.

His remarks came after US-Israel strikes against Iran began Feb. 28, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top security officials.

Despite US and Israeli strikes across the country, Araghchi said Iran has not asked for a ceasefire.

“We didn’t ask for a ceasefire even last time. In previous time, it was Israel who asked for a ceasefire. They asked for an unconditional ceasefire after 12 days that we resisted against their aggression,” he said, referring to the 12-day war last June when the Israeli and US militaries targeted Iranian nuclear facilities.

When asked about an attack on an elementary school in the city of Minab, Araghchi said 171 school girls were killed, and he put the responsibility on the American and Israeli militaries.

“This is what our military said. So, it is either the US or Israel. What is the difference?”

On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US is “investigating” the attack, while Israel denied involvement.

“We, of course, never target civilian targets, but we’re taking a look and investigating that,” Hegseth told reporters.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday dismissed the idea that the US was responsible for the strike.

“Not that we know of,” Leavitt told reporters when asked whether the US carried out the strike.

“The United States of America does not target civilians, unlike the rogue Iranian regime that targets civilians, that kills children … and uses propaganda quite effectively,” she added.

Araghci said he had no communication with President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner since last week.

“The fact is that we don’t have any positive experience of negotiating with the United States. You know, especially with this administration. We negotiated twice last year and this year, and then in the middle of negotiations, they attacked us,” Araghchi told NBC News.

“So, we see no reason why we should engage once again with those who have, who are not honest in negotiation, and they don’t and do not enter into negotiation in good faith.”

Despite his defiant tone about Iran’s military readiness, Araghchi said the broader conflict is unlikely to produce a clear victor.

“There is no winner in this war,” he said. “Our win is to be able to resist against, you know, the illegal, you know, goals, and this is what we have done so far.”

Opinion

War and The Blame Game

CrossFireArabia
March 5, 2026

By Khairi Janbek

Undoubtedly, the blame game is not a concept limited to the Middle East, neither the notion of who started the conflict nor who will end it.

However in this context, one wishes to talk about the current conflict which is becoming a chaos beyond the Middle East and specifically about Iran and its contribution to this chaos. Going back, and from the onset of the Iranian Revolution of 1979, chaos has always been part and parcel of its revolutionary ideology, reviving the old Shia-Sunni conflict, attempting to be the representative of the Shia of the world; most importantly, the concept of export of the revolution whenever the opportunity comes around.

But this phase ended with the end of the war with Iraq, but saying ended may well be too deterministic, because chaos under Iranian sponsorship emerged again after the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime in the form of what became known as the Iran-dominated Shiite Crescent. However with the set backs of last year, the chaos sponsorship of Iran to a back step, to relaunch again with projectiles all around creating a chaos in the region and beyond.

Essentially at this juncture, all the affected countries seem to have left the conflict to Israel and the US to deal with, maybe to the possibility that those parties do not believe that this conflict will be conclusive, or a feeling that whether they participate in the conflict or not, they will neither be seen in good favour by the United States and/or Israel.

But also having said that, there is also plenty of scepticism in the region, because each time there is a conflict involving the USA, there is always a big possibility that the US stops in the middle and allows its adversaries to recover and pick up, which means putting themselves in an adversarial position vis a vis recovered forces which they may have to face.

In fact whether by fluke or by good thinking, not to declare the war aims in this conflict may turn out to be a wise move, as this war may indeed end as one is writing these words, with the declaration by everyone that the war aims have been achieved. But as a final word, one feels Iranian induced chaos must be met with a world response.

Dr Janbek is a Jordanian columnist based in Paris, France.

News

Iranian Media: Iran Lunched 500 Ballistic, Cruise Missiles and 2000 Drones Since The War Start

CrossFireArabia
March 5, 2026

Opinion

BoP and The Lurking Devil!

Saleem Ayoub Quna
March 5, 2026

Eight months ago and precisely in June 2025, the US and Israel launched their first combined “Midnight Hammer” military operation against Iran, in an attempt to obliterate its controversial nuclear facilities, set since 2018, to be settled through negotiations between the US and Iran. Prior to that strike, not Ukraine nor Venezuela or Greenland, but Gaza was the hottest issue on Trump’ international agenda, as he was applying the final touches on his anticipated peace plan for the devastated tiny strip! On 26 January this year, i.e. nearly a month ago, Trump from Davos, in Switzerland, proudly announced the birth of BoP, “The Board of Peace”, which he would preside over forever.

To enhance his initiative’s chances to succeed, Trump had invited world leaders to join his new born club for peace. Those who responded favorably had little choice to do otherwise, and some of them promised to contribute billions of dollars to make the plan work. Other big shots such as Russia, France or China were either not interested or invited!

The last one to join the club, but reluctantly, was no other than the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, despite his direct involvement in the thick of the matter. Netanyahu thought the plan was naïve and amateurish in more than one aspect! So he would send his Foreign Minister to attend the signing ceremony in Davos, for his own thoughts were focused on other more important issues that would take place later! Regardless of Netanyahu’s caveats, the Trump BoP seemed to be one of few feasible options to stop the violence and killing committed by Israel.

in Gaza, and a shy start towards a peaceful transition in Gaza and beyond despite the many loopholes.
On this occasion Trump said: “This is a big, big day, a beautiful day, potentially one of the great days ever in civilization”. The he added: “I am not talking about Gaza. Gaza is one thing, but we are talking about
much beyond Gaza. The whole deal, everything getting solved. It is called peace in the Middle East”. While this BoP was hailed as an achievement for Trump’s diplomacy, envisaged by his top capable advisor to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and his assistant Jared Kushner, Trump’s trusted son-in-law, it whistled disaster in Netanyahu’s ears.

From this man’s point of view, if the BoP was put on track of the peace train, let alone its arrival at its desired destination, it would mean one thing and nothing else: the end of Gaza tragedy which also meant the end of Netanyahu’s political career. For him, it looked like a trap that he had, knowingly but unwillingly, a role in setting up. At this crucial moment the manipulative devil and the survival instinct in
Netanyahu, were awakened and pushed him to embark on planning a reversal of this momentum. He had to end this nonsense talk about peace for Gaza, let alone beyond! For certain, he regretted his consent to the suspension of the Midnight-Hammer strike back in June against Iran. Now time is running short for him again.

He needs to take a big and last gamble to divert Trump’s current menacing approach to solve the thorny issues in this region. He, prematurely, and ahead of his originally scheduled visit to the US, books
a meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, thus effecting his sixth meeting with Trump in less than a year!

There, he presents his case: Today, he tells Trump, Iran is the biggest real danger facing Israel and the free world led by the US; Iran is stockpiling an arsenal of all kinds of deadly missiles; the majority of
Iranians want the US to help them topple the regime which is massacring the protesters in the streets; Iranian negotiating team are just buying more time; it is now or a never again chance to finish this
nightmare called Iran, after its proxies in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Gaza and Lebanon were defeated earlier.
Trump submissively listened, as Netanyahu managed to put a hold on every other item on Trump’s agenda, including his cherished BoP project for which he hoped to be nominated for the Nobel Prize for
peace!

Today as the war against Iran goes into its sixth day, two things and plus are crystal clear; there will be no peace prizes, and there will lot of havoc and chaos on the ground, plus the devil in Netanyahu, will be the happiest breathing creature around, for the time being!

News

Qatar Evacuates Residents Near US Embassy

CrossFireArabia
March 5, 2026

Qatar’s Interior Ministry said Thursday that authorities have temporarily evacuated residents living near the US Embassy as a precautionary measure.

The ministry said in a statement posted on the US social media company X’s platform that the evacuation was being carried out by relevant authorities as a preventive step.

“Suitable accommodation has been provided for them as part of necessary preventive measures,” it said.

Officials did not provide further details about the reason for the evacuation or how many residents were affected.

The ministry urged the public to rely on official channels for accurate information according to Anadolu.