President Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran has firmly reiterated the nation’s stance against abandoning its nuclear program, declaring that Iran is fully prepared for potential conflict with Israel. His comments come in the wake of recent U.S. and Israeli strikes, which Iran claims have failed to significantly impact its nuclear capabilities. Pezeshkian, speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, stated that Trump’s assertions about the obliteration of Iran’s nuclear program are ‘just an illusion.’ He further warned that Iran is ready to retaliate against Israel should another conflict arise.
The U.S. strikes – which came just days after Israel targeted top military figures and nuclear scientists – are believed to have set back Iran’s nuclear program by up to two years. However, security experts have indicated that Iran continues to possess significant military strike capabilities, and there are lingering questions about whether Iran successfully moved enriched uranium offsite before Washington’s strikes.
Pezeshkian acknowledged the blow that Israel levied against its top officials but asserted that the strike completely failed to ‘eliminate’ the hierarchy of Iran’s nuclear program. He further warned that Iran is ready to take on Jerusalem should another conflict break out. ‘We are fully prepared for any new Israeli military move, and our armed forces are ready to strike deep inside Israel again,’ Pezeshkian said.
Iran and Israel are still operating under a ceasefire brokered by the U.S. and Qatar following last month’s 12-Day War, but the Iranian president expressed skepticism about the truce’s durability. ‘We are not very optimistic about it,’ Pezeshkian stated. ‘That is why we have prepared ourselves for any possible scenario and any potential response. Israel has harmed us, and we have also harmed it,’ he added. ‘It has dealt us powerful blows, and we have struck it hard in its depths, but it is concealing its losses.’
Delegations from France, Germany, and the U.K. (the E3) are set to travel to Tehran on Friday to discuss nuclear negotiations. The E3 visit will come just three days after officials from Russia and China, who are also signatories of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), visited on Tuesday to discuss negotiations and how Iran can avoid sanctions, though details of the talks remain unknown.
Iran began initiating international talks after the E3 last week threatened to employ snapback sanctions – which would see the entire 15-member U.N. Security Council enforce strict economic ramifications – should Iran not enter into a nuclear agreement by the end of August. The timeframe is consistent with the time needed for the JCPOA signatories to recall snapback sanctions prior to the Oct. 18 expiration date when the economic tool can no longer be employed en masse per the 2015 terms of the agreement.