A senior adviser to top leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Monday that Iran might be forced to develop nuclear weapons. AFP Report.
The statement is escalating after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran to disagree with its nuclear program.
Ali Larijani, a key figure in Iran’s political leadership, said on Iran’s national television that although Iran has not actively sought nuclear weapons, external aggression may have no choice. “We are not moving towards (nuclear) weapons, but if you do something wrong with the Iran nuclear issue, you will force Iran to move towards this action because it has to defend itself,” Rarijani said. “Iran doesn’t want to do this, but… (it) has no choice.”
Warnings issued on weekends during an interview with NBC News include “If Iran does not meet the requirements of the United States, it will explode.” The president also recommended “secondary tariffs” on Iran, although the details of these economic measures are unclear. Iran has responded strongly to Trump’s remarks and Khamenei vows to carry out major revenge on any military action. “If it goes, they will definitely be hit hard,” Carmenei said in a speech marking the end of Ramadan.
Iran’s response and regional tensions
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani condemned Trump’s remarks in a letter to the UN Security Council, warning that any aggression by the United States or its allies would be obtained in a “speed and decisive” response. Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Ministry convened Swiss charges representing the U.S. interests in Tehran in protest against the threat.
In addition to diplomatic warnings, Iranian military officials pose a direct threat to U.S. assets in the region. General Amirali Hajizadeh, senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), said: “The Americans have at least 10 bases in the area near Iran, and they have 50,000 soldiers. People in the glass room should not throw stones at anyone.”
Keep diplomatic channels open
Indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue despite increased speech. Trump reportedly sent a letter to Khamenei earlier this month. Iran responded through Oman’s intermediaries, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirming that “the letter has arrived at its destination and has been read out.” However, he stressed that Iran will not negotiate directly under pressure.
Although diplomatic possibilities remain, rising tensions between the United States and Iran have attracted attention to further conflict in the region.
