Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed Tehran’s readiness to engage in “genuine negotiations from a position of equality and indirect engagement,” stressing that this would require “a constructive atmosphere and a rejection of intimidation, threats, and blackmail.”
Araghchi reiterated Iran’s firm commitment to advancing its peaceful nuclear program “in accordance with international legal standards.”
In a pointed rebuke to recent comments by American officials, Araghchi called such threats “unacceptable and contrary to the principles of the UN Charter and international law,” warning that Iran would “respond swiftly and decisively to any aggression that infringes on its territorial integrity, sovereignty, or national interests.”
In a sharper tone, Ali Larijani, senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, declared that while Iran does not seek to develop a nuclear weapon, it “would be left with no choice but to pursue that path” if subjected to a military assault.
“If you choose to bomb us, whether directly or through Israel,” Larijani said in a televised interview, “you will be forcing Iran to make a very different decision.”
Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Khamenei warned during his Eid al-Fitr sermon that any enemy attack would be met with a “crushing blow.” He declared, “Should our enemies strike Iran, they will receive a severe and powerful retaliation. And if they attempt to stir unrest within, the Iranian people will rise, as they always have.”
Targeting Iran’s Nuclear Program
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy recently examined the mounting challenges surrounding the revival of the nuclear agreement with Iran, along with alternative scenarios—including the option of military confrontation.
Analysts argue that since the U.S. unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, Iran’s nuclear program has advanced significantly in both capability and sophistication, bringing it dangerously close to possessing a nuclear weapon.
Some experts now believe that military action may be the only viable option to prevent Iran from crossing the nuclear threshold, stressing the necessity of preparing for a sustained military campaign should that course be chosen.
Dana Stroul, research director at the Washington Institute, claimed Iran is at its weakest point in years due to the collapse of its regional influence networks, making it increasingly vulnerable to a large-scale military strike. She added that officials in Washington and Tel Aviv now see this as a “strategic window of opportunity.”
Richard Nephew, a senior fellow at the same institute, warned that Iran is now “extremely close” to achieving military-grade nuclear capability, citing rapid uranium enrichment and the development of advanced centrifuge systems. Sanctions alone, he said, are no longer sufficient, and the international community is running out of options.
Michael Eisenstadt, director of military and security studies at the institute, stated that any preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities must mark the beginning of a long-term operation designed to prevent any rebuilding efforts. He stressed the importance of solid intelligence and broad international backing for such a strategy to succeed.
Meanwhile, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) published satellite images it claims reveal potential nuclear sites in Iran that could become targets in the event of open conflict.
Iranian Withdrawal from Yemen
In a separate but related development, the Telegraph reported that Iran has ordered some of its military personnel to withdraw from Yemen amid the intensifying U.S. air campaign targeting Ansar Allah (the Houthis).
A senior Iranian official told the newspaper that this move is aimed at avoiding a direct confrontation with the United States.
He further stated that Iran is now scaling back its broader strategy of relying on regional resistance groups to instead focus on “more immediate threats” coming directly from Washington.
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