Major Hossein Salami, the leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), made threats on Thursday regarding dire consequences for the US and Israel.
The Trump administration has engaged in attempts to negotiate a structure aimed at managing Iran’s controversial nuclear program. This involves ongoing consultations, three of which have taken place with Omani mediation. Despite President Trump’s characterization of these discussions as “direct,” Iran has shown reluctance, opting to send Oman as an intermediary instead of engaging openly.
Salami, known for his aggressive stance, has issued what many interpret as a direct threat to President Trump, implying that any misstep could result in catastrophic repercussions. He remarked, “If you make the slightest mistake, we will unleash hell upon you,” underlining the military’s readiness within the IRGC to respond to threats.
Furthermore, Salami’s comments seem to suggest a strategy to create discord between Israel and the United States, cautioning the Trump administration about Israel’s influence in drawing the U.S. into prolonged conflicts.
The Iranian state news agency has reported on Salami’s statements regarding retaliation, focusing on the idea of not being the initial aggressor but responding violently to any attacks. He stated, “Any area that attacks us will become our target,” emphasizing Iran’s doctrine of striking at perceived threats.
Over the years, Salami has emerged as a hardliner, often using his platform to deliver strong messages against perceived enemies. In a previous interview, he vowed to respond decisively to any threats from the Trump administration linked to terrorism accusations.
Salami’s standing grew after the assassination of Major General Qasem Soleimani in 2020, an influential figure in Iran’s military operations abroad. His successor, Esmail Qaani, has maintained a lower profile amid speculation regarding potential vulnerabilities in his leadership.
The backdrop of Salami’s threats aligns with reports hinting at a potential fourth round of negotiations between Iran and the U.S. Meanwhile, Iranian officials, including Abbas Araguchi, plan visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar this weekend, perhaps to further these discussions. Recent dialogue involving the International Atomic Energy Agency has also touched upon Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the sanctions imposed against it.
IAEA Director Rafael Grossi has expressed ongoing concerns regarding Iran’s compliance with international regulations, indicating a significant increase in uranium stockpiles and enrichment activities over the last few years. This situation raises alarms as negotiations seem to yield little progress.
Overall, the dialogue between Tehran and Washington continues to struggle in achieving any substantial breakthroughs.
