US 'conflict with Iran would be catastrophic for the oil and gas market'

In an interview with Al Mayadeen, Mohammad Marandi, Professor of English Literature and Orientalism at the University of Tehran, emphasized that Iran has never suspended indirect negotiations with the United States and has continued message exchanges as it did under the previous Biden and Trump administrations. Reiterating Iranian officials' statements, he clarified that Iran remains open to diplomacy but not at the cost of its rights. “Iran will not relinquish its rights to a peaceful nuclear program and Iran will not give up its defense capabilities or its allies. That is off the table. That is not up for negotiations,” Marandi affirmed. He further warned that any military confrontation with Iran would be disastrous for the global economy, especially given Iran’s vast network of underground missile and drone bases near key US military installations in the Gulf.