Iran ready to continue missile strikes on U.S., Israel as long as needed: FM

TEHRAN, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said the country is well-prepared to continue missile attacks against Israel and U.S. bases in the West Asia region for as long as needed.

In an interview with U.S. PBS News aired Tuesday, Araghchi said U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran's missile facilities have failed to stop its retaliatory strikes, noting that Iran will continue them "as long as needed and as long as it takes."

The United States and Israel lack a "realistic endgame," he said, adding, "They have just started to attack us blindly and are targeting residential areas, hospitals, schools and infrastructure, which is a very dangerous move."

Commenting on the selection of the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Araghchi said it showed the continuity of Iran's anti-U.S. and anti-Israel policies and the nation's stability.

Resuming negotiations with the United States is not an option, he said, citing "every bitter experience of talking with Americans" and saying he does not think it "would be on our agenda anymore."

Araghchi attributed rising global energy prices to slowed or halted regional oil production and transportation due to the U.S.-Israeli "aggression" against Iran, arguing that Iran has "not closed the Strait of Hormuz" and is "not preventing navigation through it."

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli and U.S. assets in the Middle East.

The conflict's broader regional repercussions raise concerns about disruptions to oil exports and global energy markets, primarily due to risks to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi's remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the U.S.-Israeli military strikes against Iran would be over "soon." ■