Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Oct 4: Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday said there was no military or sanctions-based solution to the conflict with the US, stressing that diplomacy was the only way to end the hostilities, local media reported.

Addressing ambassadors and representatives of countries and international organisations in Tehran, Araghchi said, “There is no military or sanctions-based solution. Only a diplomatic solution can work and can help bring an end to the aggression against Iran.”

The Foreign Minister expressed hope that the US would choose “wisdom and rationality”, while asserting that Iran was more prepared than before if Washington opted for a military course, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.

Araghchi said the Iranian delegation held several meetings and interviews during the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and presented a seven-day proposal aimed at resolving existing disputes and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Under the proposal, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened within seven days if the plan was agreed to, he said.

Araghchi said Iran had expressed its readiness during the UNGA to pursue a diplomatic solution to end the conflict, while remaining committed to defending itself.

He also warned that Iran’s response would be stronger if its adversaries once again opted for military confrontation.

The remarks came amid continuing tensions surrounding the conflict and mounting economic pressure on Iran.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said the war with Iran would end “very quickly” and predicted that oil prices would fall sharply once the conflict was over. He also portrayed Iran as facing severe military and economic pressure.

Speaking to reporters after arriving in Texas and later during a visit to a Peterbilt Motors facility in Denton, Trump said Iran faced a choice over how the conflict would end.

“Iran will very soon be ending one way or the other,” Trump told reporters.

“It'll either just say, look, they have 301 per cent inflation. They have no money, they have no currency. Their military has been defeated, their navy is gone, their air force is gone, everything's gone,” he said.

“And, one way or the other, it's going to end very quickly. And when that ends, oil prices are going to drop like a rock,” Trump said.