The Iranian Army and the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) separately warned on Saturday adversaries of Iran that they would receive a decisive response in case of any act of aggression against their country.
The warning came in two separate statements to mark the anniversary of the Iranian army’s liberation of Khorramshahr, a southern city captured during the 1980-88 war with Iraq.
It also came amid reports that Israel is drawing up plans for a rapid military strike against Iranian nuclear sites.
IRGC said it works in synergy with the other Iranian armed forces to give a decisive response to any hostile action. It warned that its reaction to the acts of aggression will be beyond the enemy’s imagination.
The Revolutionary Guards statement also said that any aggression would provoke a retaliatory strike powerful enough to shift the strategic balance of power in west Asia.
In the meantime, a statement by Iran’s Army said that alongside other armed forces, it is prepared to defend the territorial integrity, independence, and security of the country and will never allow the evil dreams of the sworn enemies of this land to come true.
“The army will defend this land to the last drop of blood and will spare no effort in the path of the pride and honor of Islamic Iran,” it said.
Position of Strength
“If we want (nuclear) talks to end in our favor, we must confront the Americans from a position of strength and have the finger of our armed forces on the trigger during negotiations,” former head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Fereydoun Abbasi, told ISNA on Saturday.
“Today, nuclear weapons aim to achieve a balance of power” rather than a military purpose. “The Muslim world must have its own strength to confront the arrogant West,” Abbasi said.
Last Thursday, Tehran's Revolutionary Guards said Israel will receive a “devastating and decisive response” if it attacks Iran, days after CNN reported
US intelligence suggesting Israel was making preparations to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.
Israeli Preparations
The reports were confirmed by two Israeli sources who told Axios that Tel Aviv is making preparations to swiftly strike Iran's nuclear facilities if negotiations between the US and Iran collapse.
“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a highly sensitive meeting earlier this week with a group of top ministers and security and intelligence officials regarding the status of the nuclear talks,” an Israeli official said.
The two sources confirmed a CNN report that the Israeli army have been conducting exercises and other preparations for a possible strike in Iran. “There was a lot of training and the US military sees everything and understands Israel is preparing,” one said.
Key Points of Contention
On Friday, Iran and the United States held a fifth round of Oman-mediated nuclear talks in Rome, but with no breakthrough reported.
However, both sides still described the meeting as constructive and expressed a willingness to continue the discussions.
AFP said that one of the main obstacles seen to be hampering progress is Iran's enrichment of uranium.
The United States and Western countries suspect Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, but Iran denies having such ambitions.
Iran remains the only non-nuclear state enriching uranium to 60%, well above the 3.67% limit set under its 2015 accord with Western powers, but below the 90% needed for weapons-grade material.
The deal was torpedoed in 2018 during President Donald Trump's first term when he unilaterally withdrew the United States from the accord.
On April 27, Netanyahu urged Washington to block not only Iran's enrichment of uranium but also its missile development under any possible deal.
Before the negotiations began, some analysts suggested the US might seek a broader deal that also addressed Iran's ballistic missile program.
They believed the talks might touch on Tehran's support for the “axis of resistance,” the network of anti-Israel armed groups that includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and Yemen's Houthi militias.
Tehran has criticised what it calls “irrational” demands by Washington and inconsistent signals from US officials.
Iran opposes non-nuclear issues being discussed in the talks, citing its sovereign rights and defence needs.
Even with diplomacy under way, the United States has imposed new sanctions on Iran.
Tehran denounces what it calls Washington's “hostile approach,” noting that new sanctions were imposed just ahead of negotiations taking place.
