The stakes are rising fast in the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program. Just days ahead of the next round of nuclear negotiations, Iran’s top defense official is issuing a bold and dangerous warning.
Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh declared that if talks collapse and conflict erupts, Iran will not hesitate to strike U.S. military bases across the region.
In his words: “If a conflict is imposed on us, all U.S. bases are within our reach, and we will boldly target them — even inside host countries.”
This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has continued to warn Tehran of serious consequences — including military action — if it fails to agree to a new nuclear deal. While Trump says the next round of talks will begin Thursday, Iranian officials have stated negotiations will start Sunday in Oman, marking the sixth round of direct and indirect discussions.
Iran is expected to present a counter-offer to a recent U.S. proposal that it previously rejected. President Trump has criticized Iran’s posture, describing it as “much more aggressive” in recent days.
At the heart of the impasse lies Iran’s uranium enrichment program. While Tehran insists its nuclear efforts are strictly for civilian energy use, the U.S. and its Western allies argue that the technology involved poses a direct path to nuclear weapons development.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi struck a more optimistic tone Wednesday, writing on social media that a deal “ensuring the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program is within reach — and could be achieved rapidly.”
But Iran’s military rhetoric is far from conciliatory.
Minister Nasirzadeh revealed that Iran has recently tested a new missile capable of carrying a two-ton warhead, openly rejecting any restrictions on its missile arsenal. He reiterated that Tehran will not accept limits on its defense capabilities — especially its growing missile program, which has been a key sticking point in negotiations.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also previously called for Iran to strengthen its military forces, including missile development, calling it a “national priority.”
As nuclear talks inch forward and tensions escalate, the world watches with concern. Will diplomacy prevail, or are both sides barreling toward confrontation?
We will keep you updated every step of the way.
Reporting by Carl Montel.
