'Iran does not want to be under threat from Trump,' former diplomat tells AnewZ

“After all these demonstrations and internal challenges, Iran does not want to put itself in a position under threat from Mr. Trump or Israel,” political analyst Melih Demirtaş said, commenting on rising U.S.-Iran tensions in the region.

Demirtaş, a former diplomat based in Ankara, Türkiye, told AnewZ the situation requires careful diplomacy.

“If this diplomacy cannot be found, we could see some scenarios involving military escalations — maybe low or medium-term violence,” he added.

The comments come as the U.S. has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East, with the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, and supporting warships, arriving in regional waters.

U.S. President Donald Trump has described the deployment as another “beautiful armada” heading toward Iran, emphasizing that all options remain on the table amid escalating tensions.

At the same time, key Gulf allies appear to be limiting U.S. military options. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince told Iranian President that Riyadh will not allow its territory or airspace to be used for attacks on Tehran, a position mirrored by the United Arab Emirates.

Demirtaş said these dynamics underscore the importance of diplomacy in the region.

“The crisis is so hot because Iran’s regime is also, quote-unquote, brave and confident,” he said. “We really need diplomacy first of all, to avoid unnecessary escalation.”

The analyst noted that while tensions are high, regional actors may help prevent the conflict from expanding into a broader war.

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"We hope it will not escalate to a high scale with the help of actors like Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Azerbaijan, and others,” he added.

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