Senior Iranian official Ebrahim Rezaei said on Thursday he holds reservations about the newly signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States, adding that Iran would continue talks but has tools and readiness for another confrontation.
The MoU was signed by U.S. President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian to end the Iran war on Wednesday. It took effect immediately. A signing ceremony was originally scheduled for Friday in Switzerland but was later canceled, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar confirmed to local media on Thursday.
Rezaei, the spokesperson for Iran's Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said past experiences and previous U.S. breaches of commitments make Iran deeply skeptical about American rhetoric.
"Personally I am not very optimistic about an agreement with the United States. The reason is their past breaches of commitments and our previous experiences. The two wars that were imposed on us over the past year both occurred while we were in the middle of negotiations with the Americans. Therefore, in Tehran we are also preparing ourselves for the possibility of another war. We do not believe what the Americans say and we act based on our own calculations," said Rezaei.
Despite Iran's skepticism, the country will not abandon diplomatic means and will continue to hold talks with the United States, Rezaei said.
"At the same time, we are using the option of negotiation and diplomacy, and we will continue to have talks with the Americans," he said.
Rezaei expressed hope that Iran's continued resolve throughout the conflict will deter the U.S. from taking further military action.
"What has become clear to the Americans is that we have the tools and the readiness both to escalate tensions in the region and to confront them if necessary. We have defensive power, and we can also make the situation difficult for them in other arenas," the spokesman said.
He warned that Iran's tactical positioning and regional influence had not been weakened by the conflict.
"Today, Iran’s strategic depth and power are greater than before, and we have the ability to impose our will on our enemies. The Americans should be careful not to make us angry," Rezaei said.
Iranian official skeptical of US agreement, says Iran ready for new confrontation
Kenya's health authorities have intensified health screening for truck drivers whose movements span thousands of kilometers across multiple countries, as East Africa remains on heightened alert following the latest outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo).
The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the DR Congo had risen to 896, including 232 deaths, the country's public health authorities said Thursday.
Everyday, hundreds of trucks leave Kenya's capital carrying goods destined for Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, and the DR Congo.
At the Inland Container Depot in Embakasi, Stephen Kihima is preparing for another long journey westward. Kihima said he has to take extra caution as he frequently passes through busy border crossings where thousands of travelers and transport workers converge each day.
"We no longer shake hands. We do fist bumps or just wave, but we don't fear crossing borders because this is our job," Kihima said.
Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have enhanced health screenings, temperature checks, and awareness campaigns at border points. For truck drivers, these measures have now become part of their routine.
"Most of us drivers have stopped eating food in those countries, we move with our own stoves and cook our food, most of us don't go to the hotels to eat. We fear that the hotels might have the disease," Kihima said.
Experts said truck drivers have always been a critical link in regional trade, but their extensive movement across countries also creates opportunities for infectious diseases to spread if proper measures are not followed.
"When truck drivers are well informed about how the disease is spread when they now go to those areas where maybe the disease, where there are cases of that disease of the Ebola virus disease they would also know how to stay safe; how to interact with the population there; they will know what preventive measures to take," said Samuel Njenga, an infectious diseases expert.
Kenyan authorities have strengthened monitoring systems at key entry points and are working closely with regional partners to prevent cross-border transmission.
Mary Muthoni, principal secretary for public health under the Kenyan Health Ministry, said while inspecting the border epidemic control situations that the authorities are going to have weekly briefs for truck drivers at the border point, and continue to provide relevant health trainings.
Kenya enhances health screening for truck drivers as Ebola outbreak continues
