“While we have renounced any escalation in the region, I would assure you that Iranian armed forces are fully ready for any eventuality in the region, so they should not try to test the determination of Iran to confront any escalation in the region,” he told Sky News.

Baeidinejad said he believes President Donald Trump’s closest advisers, like national security adviser John Bolton, are the ones trying to pressure him into a confrontation that neither country wants.

The ambassador told Sky News his government did not believe Mr Trump was serious about threatening war and was not worried by comments to the contrary.

“I think part of this is theatrical manoeuvres by the US,” he said.

“Our analysis is they, [or] at least President Trump, doesn’t want to engage in military confrontation with Iran because of how costly it will be for the U.S. and for the region.”

The war of words between the U.S. and Iran comes after the White House announcement last Sunday it would send the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers into the Persian Gulf to counter Tehran. The Lincoln on Thursday passed through the Suez Canal on its way to its new assignment, as Breitbart News reported.

In contrast to their U.S. counterparts, Iranian diplomats seldom give interviews. Baeidinejad’s comments came the day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran that “if they do anything, they will suffer greatly”.

Pompeo, in Russia Tuesday to speak to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said the U.S. does not seek war with Iran.

“We have also made clear to the Iranians that if American interests are attacked, we will most certainly respond in an appropriate fashion,” Pompeo said.