Iranian MP: US Might Spark "Second Gaza" in Iran Post-WC

A prominent Iranian lawmaker warned Friday that the United States might launch a more severe attack on Iran after the World Cup, aiming to transform it into a "second Gaza." Thabeti stated in a televised interview that Washington would sooner or later resort to a more intense war against Tehran, urging Iran to prepare for this likely scenario. In a separate context, MP Amir Hossein Thabeti affirmed that the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, does not represent the Iranian leadership as an authorized negotiator in talks. Instead, President Masoud Pezeshkian, not the supreme leadership, nominated him for the task. He clarified that the leadership's approval for this path resulted from an agreement between the heads of government and parliament, adding that any other agreed-upon figure would have received approval within this framework. Thabeti noted that discussions held in Islamabad witnessed a transgression of "red lines" set by the Iranian leadership, prompting remarks that led to the cessation of those actions. Regarding relations with Washington, he asserted it follows a "contradictory" policy of discussing agreement while threatening war. Thabeti also criticized former Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, arguing that after the martyrdom of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, escalatory measures, including "igniting the region" and closing the Strait of Hormuz, should have been announced, rather than focusing on selecting new leadership via established legal frameworks.