Quotes
Observing the behavior and words of Trump during his first presidential term with North Korea shows that having an atomic bomb has brought security for Korea. If we were also armed with an atomic bomb, Trump would not dare threaten bombing."
Ahmad Naderi, Iranian lawmaker wrote on X
Iran's official nuclear policy has not changed and the nuclear program has remained civilian. But in the face of pressure and increased military threats, some officials are floating the idea of nuclear weapons as a response. This is in rhetoric and posturing to show that Iran still has cards, while its enemies are saying they are at their weakest."
Negar Mortazavi, Senior Fellow at the Center for International Policy and host of The Iran Podcast told NewsweekThreats are really heard, and ultimatums are also heard. We consider such methods inappropriate, we condemn them,
Ryabkov addedThe IC [intelligence community] continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon and Khamenei has not authorized the nuclear weapon program that he suspended in 2003,
Gabbard told a worldwide threat hearing held by the Senate Intelligence Community last week
The IC continues to monitor closely if Tehran decides to reauthorize its nuclear weapons program. In the past year we've seen an erosion in the decades-long taboo in Iran of discussing nuclear weapons in public, likely emboldening nuclear weapons advocates within Iran's decision making apparatus,
Gabbard saidTheir enrichment program is about as far as you can get, so that part is done. So the question is the weapons part.… the issue today is less weaponization and more about opportunity."
JINSA President and CEO Michael Makovsky offered a separate assessment, telling Fox News DigitalThere's a chance that if they don't make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago,
he addedThe IC assesses Iran’s prospects for reconstituting force losses and posing a credible deterrent, particularly to Israeli actions, are dim in the near-term,
the report saidTehran will try to leverage its robust missile capability and expanded nuclear program, and its diplomatic outreach to regional states and U.S. rivals to bolster its regional influence and ensure regime survival,
the report said.jpg)
If the Americans attack the sanctity of Iran, the entire region will blow up like a spark in an ammunition dump.
In response, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Qalibaf said on Friday
There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal.
The US President warnedWhen the time comes, it won't matter whether you're an American, British, or Turkish soldier – you will be targeted if your base is used by Americans.
The military official added
The consequences of this, especially if the strikes are on nuclear infrastructure, could be catastrophic for the entire region,
Ryabkov said
Threats are indeed being heard, ultimatums are also being heard,
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Russian journal "International Affairs" in an interview, extracts of which were published on TuesdayWhile there is still time and the 'train has not left', we need to redouble our efforts to try to reach an agreement on a reasonable basis. Russia is ready to offer its good services to Washington, Tehran, and everyone who is interested in this,
he saidIran does not want to do this, but will have no choice. If at some point you (the U.S.) move towards bombing by yourself or through Israel, you will force Iran to make a different decision."
Ali Larijani, adviser to Khamenei, said on Iranian state TVThere will be bombing" if Iran does not agree to a nuclear deal
he told NBC
There is only one proxy force in this region, and that is the corrupt usurper Zionist regime,
Khamenei said, calling for Israel to be "eradicated".
Someone who is in a glass room shouldn't throw stones at anyone,
the man in charge of Iran's ballistic missile programme threatened on state television MondayWe are not moving towards (nuclear) weapons, but if you do something wrong in the Iranian nuclear issue, you will force Iran to move towards that because it has to defend itself."
The supreme leader's adviser Ali Larijani, while speaking to state TV, said