Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has emphasized the need for the country to enhance its military capabilities following threats from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Iran’s nuclear program. Khamenei made these remarks on Wednesday during a visit to a defense exhibition in Tehran, asserting that “progress should not be stopped.”
Khamenei stated, “We cannot be satisfied,” indicating that previous limits set on missile accuracy are no longer sufficient. He added, “Today, our defensive power is well known, and our enemies fear this. This is crucial for our nation.”
These comments come in the wake of Iran’s UN representative, Amir Saeid Iravani, condemning Trump’s “reckless and inflammatory statements.” Iravani warned that any act of aggression would lead to severe consequences for the United States. In a letter to the UN Security Council, he referenced Trump’s recent media interviews, where the U.S. President suggested that stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons could be achieved through either military force or negotiations.
“I would much rather do a deal that’s not gonna hurt them,” Trump stated in an interview, expressing a desire for peaceful negotiations over military action.
Tensions between Iran and the U.S. have escalated since Trump’s administration reinstated a “maximum pressure” policy against Iran, aiming to curb its nuclear ambitions. In his letter, Iravani labeled Trump’s remarks as “deeply alarming and irresponsible” and highlighted that such statements violate international law and the UN Charter, which prohibits threats against sovereign nations.
Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes and denies any intentions to develop nuclear weapons. During Trump’s initial term, he withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a pivotal agreement that had placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Although Iran adhered to the deal for a year post-withdrawal, it gradually began to reduce its commitments, including enriching uranium to levels nearing weapons-grade purity.
Khamenei further stated that negotiations with the U.S. are futile, reflecting on past experiences. “No problem will be solved by negotiating with America,” he asserted. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian echoed these sentiments earlier this week, questioning the U.S.’s sincerity in pursuing dialogue with Tehran. “Trump says he wants to negotiate, yet at the same time, he signs off on every possible conspiracy to bring this revolution to its knees,” Pezeshkian remarked during commemorations for the 46th anniversary of the Iranian revolution.
