Tehran has intensified its warnings in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statement that Israel is prepared to “get the job done” against Iran’s nuclear program if it secures support from US President Donald Trump.
US intelligence agencies have warned that Israel is considering major strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities in the first half of this year, taking advantage of Iran’s current state of vulnerability. Last week, Trump raised the possibility of an Israeli attack on Iran but stated that he would prefer to negotiate a deal that prevents Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Iran now faces a critical decision on whether to negotiate with Trump, amid growing internal unrest due to economic struggles and setbacks in its regional influence. Analysts argue that Iran is increasingly compelled to engage in talks, particularly after its so-called “Axis of Resistance” weakened due to the fragmentation of its allies, the downfall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and targeted strikes against Hezbollah. Trump believes that Iran’s diminished military strength has left it in a weak defensive position, making diplomatic engagement more likely than military escalation.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s Vice President for Strategic Affairs, denied on Wednesday that Iran is in a weakened or vulnerable state, calling such claims a “new narrative led by Netanyahu.”
Zarif dismissed claims that Iran has lost its regional influence and is now pursuing nuclear weapons out of desperation. “This is a false narrative,” he stated. “We are not at our weakest; we are in a position to move forward and build a narrative of strength.”
Zarif also accused Israel of falsely depicting the regional conflict as a direct confrontation between Iran and Israel, stating that this framing distorts the reality of the situation.
“For over 30 years, Israel has been claiming that Iran is just six months away from obtaining a nuclear bomb, yet they are still saying the same thing today,” he added.
Mocking tensions between Europe and the US, Zarif recalled a speech he gave at the Munich Security Conference five years ago, where he warned that Western complacency would eventually backfire.
“I said that if you let certain forces do as they please with Iran, the time will come when you too will face the consequences. Now, we see this unfolding in Europe,” he remarked.
Alongside Zarif’s statements, Iranian military officials have escalated their warnings against Israel, cautioning that any military strike against Iran would have severe consequences.
The most forceful warning came from Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) missile unit, during a widely publicized interview on state television. Hajizadeh dismissed claims that Iran is weakened, calling them part of a Western psychological warfare campaign. He referenced Iran’s direct missile strikes on Israeli territory in April and October of last year as evidence of its capabilities.
On Wednesday, the Iranian army and the IRGC completed the second phase of their annual military exercises, shifting their focus from western Iran to the country’s oil- and gas-rich southwest.
Speaking on Tuesday, IRGC commander Hossein Salami declared that Iran would never bow to foreign pressure.
“Iran is a great and powerful nation, with determination and willpower capable of forcing arrogant powers to submit to its authority,” he asserted. “We are strong, and our enemies are well aware of this strength. Of course, we are obligated to be strong.”
