Iran Isn’t Pursuing Nuclear Weapons: Khamenei’s Aide

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By Staff Writer with Agencies

Tehran, Iran – An adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that while Iran is not currently pursuing nuclear weapons, it may reconsider its stance if it faces military aggression from the United States or its allies.

“We are not moving towards (nuclear) weapons, but if you do something wrong in the Iranian nuclear issue, you will force Iran to move toward that because it has to defend itself,” Ali Larijani said in an interview with state television. “Iran doesn’t want to do this, but …(it) will have no choice.”

Escalating US-Iran Tensions

The remarks follow a warning from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently stated that military action against Iran would be imminent if Tehran did not agree to a nuclear deal.

“If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,” Trump said in a telephone interview. “It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei responded by cautioning that any aggression against Iran would be met with a strong counterattack.

Diplomatic Maneuvers and Military Warnings

Following Trump’s remarks, Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the charge d’affaires of the Swiss embassy, which represents U.S. interests in Tehran, to formally protest the threats.

Senior Iranian military officials also issued stark warnings. “The Americans have at least 10 bases in the region around Iran, and they have 50,000 troops,” said General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a top commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. “Someone who is in a glass room shouldn’t throw stones at anyone.”

Iran’s Nuclear Policy and Global Reactions

Western countries have long accused Iran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons, allegations Tehran has consistently denied. Iranian officials insist that their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, such as energy production and medical research.

The 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), required Iran to scale back its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, the U.S. withdrew from the agreement under Trump’s administration, reinstating severe economic sanctions as part of a “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran.

Since then, Iran has gradually reduced its compliance with the deal, raising concerns among Western nations. The ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to fuel speculation about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the potential for further conflict in the region.

As diplomatic efforts remain uncertain, Iran’s warning about its nuclear policy underscores the fragile state of international relations and the risks of further escalation.