Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, reiterated threats directed at the U.S. and Israel during a statement on Wednesday. He remarked that while the country is open to nuclear discussions, the possibility of sanctions remains a serious consideration. “It’s commendable that we are ready to confront the power of the U.S. and its allies,” he stated, as translated by Reuters for Iranian state television.
Last month, Khamenei mentioned that the attack on a U.S. airbase in Qatar marked just the beginning of actions Tehran might take against Washington, indicating that “an even greater impact could be inflicted” upon the U.S. and others.
With the anniversary of the nuclear deal approaching, Iran has promised to retaliate should the UN Security Council impose snapback sanctions. U.S. assessments suggest that Iran’s nuclear program has seen delays following a strike at the Fordau atomic site back in June, amidst a series of Israeli attacks on Iran’s military and nuclear facilities.
There’s uncertainty around the extent to which Iran’s missile and drone capabilities have been weakened after those strikes. Despite some claims, experts caution that these programs continue to represent significant threats. It’s estimated that Iran could still have around 1,500 medium-range ballistic missiles, as noted by security analysts.
Some experts argue that even post-strikes, Iran maintains a notable level of military capability. Behnam Ben Taleblu, an Iranian expert, pointed out that despite challenges, Iran’s capability poses a considerable risk in the region.
Khamenei’s recent threats followed similar statements from other Iranian officials as Western countries ramp up sanctions unless the U.S. can advance nuclear negotiations before summer ends. While President Trump has committed to discussions aimed at avoiding further military escalation, he emphasized that he wouldn’t rush the negotiation process despite looming deadlines.
Experts voiced concerns that snapback sanctions could push Iran to abandon the nuclear agreement altogether. The German Foreign Ministry reiterated the importance of finding sustainable diplomatic solutions that reflect the security needs of the international community, highlighting that the snapback mechanism remains among the options if a resolution is not reached soon.
