Iran says won't submit to US threats; prepared for confrontation
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Iranian leaders reject Western pressure, warn the US and “Israel” against provocation, and highlight readiness as nuclear talks are set to resume in Oman.
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Iranian army cadets attend a parade commemorating National Army Day in front of the shrine of the late revolutionary founder Sayyed Khomeini, just outside Tehran, Iran, Friday, April 18, 2025. (AP)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed on Thursday that the Islamic Republic will not allow foreign powers, particularly the United States, to dictate its national decisions. As the country faces increasing pressure through sanctions and escalating threats from “Israel”, Pezeshkian emphasized Iran’s resilience and commitment to defending its sovereignty.
In a televised address, Pezeshkian underscored the failure of Washington’s “maximum pressure” strategy, calling it “delusional and ineffective.” He added that the Iranian people have not allowed “the enemy to encroach on a single inch of their land,” highlighting Iran’s determination to pursue its scientific and industrial goals without external interference.
“We will not agree to reduce our research to zero and then wait for their permission to access nuclear materials essential for industry, medicine, and other fields,” he said, reiterating Iran’s position on nuclear development.
Pezeshkian: Sanctions will not weaken Iran’s sovereignty
Responding to renewed threats of sanctions, Pezeshkian declared that attempts to isolate Iran economically would ultimately fail. “It is not possible to sanction a country with vast and extended borders like Iran,” he stated.
He also warned that certain powers are working to sow discord in the region. “Enemies are working to stir chaos and hostility among regional countries,” he said, noting that Iran continues to prioritize “brotherhood and friendship” with its neighbors despite hostile efforts to destabilize its foreign relations.
The warning came as tensions intensified between Tehran and the Israeli occupation. Major General Hossein Salami, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), warned that Iran’s response to any Israeli provocation would far exceed past retaliatory operations.
“If the Zionists make even the slightest mistake, they will become a lesson for history,” Salami said during a visit to IRGC naval units in the Gulf. He pointed to significant advancements in Iran’s missile and drone systems, asserting that the country is “fully prepared to respond to any threat scenario” across all maritime combat ranges.
Quds Force chief: All US bases in the region are within range
Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, underscored Iran’s swift military advancements following the launch of Operation True Promise II against “Israel”.
Speaking on Thursday, Qaani affirmed that the Islamic Republic is fully equipped to handle any potential scenario. “The Islamic Republic is sitting at the negotiation table with wisdom and resourcefulness,” he stated.
He emphasized that Iran has shifted its strategic focus from reliance on negotiations to strengthening national defense capabilities.
“Know that the country is no longer held back by talks,” Qaani said. “In the defense sector, what has been achieved in just 5 or 6 months after Operation True Promise 2 is so advanced that it has left everyone astonished.”
If diplomacy fails and conflict erupts, Iran will strike decisively: Defense minister
In a separate statement yesterday, Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that if diplomacy fails and conflict erupts, Iran will strike decisively. “If it does not come to an end and a conflict is imposed on us, the casualties of the other party will definitely be much heavier than ours,” he said.
Nasirzadeh added that US military installations across the Middle East would not be spared. “The US must leave the region because all its bases are within our range, and we will target all of them in the host countries regardless.”
The heightened military rhetoric comes days before the sixth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US in Muscat, Oman. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that a “friendly” regional state had issued a private warning to Tehran about a potential Israeli strike, raising the stakes for the upcoming negotiations.
Despite increased threats, Iranian officials insist they will not surrender their nuclear rights. The unnamed official characterized the current wave of warnings and threats as “psychological warfare” designed to pressure Tehran into compromising its scientific autonomy.
“These provocations are meant to influence Tehran to change its position about its nuclear rights,” the official stated, reiterating that Iran will stand firm in the face of mounting international pressure.
