Javad Zarif, of Iran, said that US officials and allies seeking a clash with Iran would offer a prisoner exchange

"Then," said Zarif, "Team B's Plan B. will come in. I think Team B does not have the same plan as President Trump … not a plan, but a plot that will cost "billions of dollars," said Zarif, referring to the cost of American wars in the Middle East.

"The plot is to push Iran to act, and then use it," Zarif said.

"This is not yet a crisis, but a dangerous situation, accidents, conspiracy accidents are possible.I would not dismiss the team B preparing an accident anywhere in the region, especially in the run-up to the elections. "

The Iranian minister took advantage of the public appearance at the Asia Society to propose to the United States an exchange of prisoners in which Teheran would return the Americans they would hold and, in return, the United States would send the Iranians back to US prisons.

"I put this offer on the table now," he said. "Exchange them … I am ready to do it and I have the authority to do it," said Zarif, adding that Iran had made this offer to the administration Trump six months ago.

"No answer yet," said Zarif. "If they tell you something else, they are lying."

A State Department official said that "the Iranian regime can be serious about consular issues, including Iranians charged with or convicted of criminal offenses under the US sanctions laws," he said. by immediately freeing innocent Americans. "

"We call on Iran to release all unjustly arrested and missing US people, including Xiyue Wang, Robert Levinson, Siamak Namazi and Nizar Zakka, among others," the official said in a statement.

The statement did not address Zarif's claims that he contacted the United States about an exchange and lack of response from the United States.

The National Security Council did not respond to a request for comment.

A member of the crowd shouted to Zarif that Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, who had been detained in Iranian jails for nearly two years, was in the room and asked what Zarif had to say to Rezaian about his arrest. an exchange.

"I spent a lot of sleepless nights bringing him out of Iran with his wife," Zarif said. "Go to Washington, do not come to me."

Nearly a year after the withdrawal of the administration from the Iranian nuclear deal, the government is stepping up its economic and diplomatic pressure campaign which, according to Trump administration officials, is supposed to to force Iran to behave like a "normal country".

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned in May 2018 that the United States would aim to "crush" Tehran unless it changes its behavior in the Middle East, saying that many people in the United Analysts have called policy change policy except on its behalf. The policy has disappointed the allies and was likely to undermine other US political priorities, including the denuclearization of North Korea, which require the cooperation of allies and countries like China.

"Iran will continue to sell its oil"

Pompeo announced Monday the end of the oil waivers, saying that "the goal remains simple: to deprive the outlaw regime of funds used to destabilize the Middle East for four decades and to incite Iran to behave like a normal country ".

Noting that oil is "the regime's first source of liquidity," Pompeo said that prior to the implementation of US sanctions, Iran was generating "up to $ 50 billion a year" , from oil exports, but that the ministry believes that the sanctions have "denied the regime well north of $ 10 billion."

Zarif said the decision to give up oil would not prevent Iran from selling its crude and its condensate and warned that if the US tried to prevent Tehran from doing so, perhaps to be taking action in the Strait of Hormuz, that would have consequences.

"We think Iran will continue to sell its oil," he said. "We will continue to find buyers for our oil and we will continue to use the Strait of Hormuz as a safe transit route for the sale of our oil," Zarif said.

"But if the United States takes the crazy step of trying to prevent us from doing it, then they should be prepared for the consequences," Zarif added.

"It is in our interest, our vital interest for national security, to keep the Persian Gulf open, to keep the Strait of Ormuz open.We have done so in the past, we will continue to do so at the future, but States must know when they enter the Strait of Hormuz, they must speak to those who protect the Strait of Hormuz, and these are the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. "

Lt. Christina Gibson, spokeswoman for the US Navy's Central Command, said, "The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway, the threats to the closure of the strait have consequences for the international community and hinder free movement. circulation of trade ".

Gibson added that the United States and its allies are "attached to the freedom of navigation and remain well placed to preserve the free flow of trade, and we are ready to react to any act of aggression".

Pompeo also refused to rule out the possibility of a military clash with Iran. When asked on April 15, whether the Trump government was seeking a military confrontation with Iran, within the confines of the law on permission to use military forces, Pompeo left the door slightly ajar.

"Trump will act legally"

"The United States and President Trump will act legally and he will act within his authority," said Pompeo in Dallas. "Article 2 gives extended powers, AUMF gives a set of extended powers, but they are, we understand them."

Zarif suggested that the US be pushed back to the JCPOA and said there would be no better deal than what had already been negotiated.

"The United States has left the table.The table is still there.This is not like there was no table.United States do not need The table is set up There is a resolution There is an agreement I have negotiated all this and I know that neither Iran nor the United States will ever get it a better deal, "said Zarif.

Trump is "wrong" to believe that the sanctions will lead Tehran to change its policies as his government would like. "He is pondering new pressures on Iran, so the so-called maximum pressure policy that he can put on our knees," Zarif said. "He is wrong."