Tehran, Iran – Iranian authorities have remained defiant amid concerns that Israel may launch an assault on Iran as the worldwide nuclear watchdog adopts one other Western-led censure resolution.
Whilst Oman confirmed on Thursday that it’s going to host a sixth spherical of talks on Sunday between Iran and the US over Tehran’s nuclear programme, reports by retailers reminiscent of The New York Instances, quoting officers within the US and Europe, warned that Israel is “prepared” to assault Iran, even with out navy backing from Washington. Israel has long threatened to assault Iran’s nuclear websites.
The administration of US President Donald Trump additionally carried out a partial evacuation of embassy staff in Iraq and dependants of US personnel throughout the Center East in an indication of escalating pressure within the area.
“I don’t need to say imminent, nevertheless it appears prefer it’s one thing that might very properly occur,” stated Trump at a White Home occasion on Thursday, commenting on the chance of an Israeli strike.
“We won’t give in to America’s coercion and bullying,” Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated in a televised speech within the western metropolis of Ilam on Thursday, declaring that Iran resisted eight years of invasion within the Nineteen Eighties by neighbouring Iraq, which was backed by many international powers.
Hossein Salami, commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), instructed state tv that if Israel assaults, it will be met with a “history-making” response that will go far past Iran’s two rounds of retaliatory strikes on Israel final 12 months.
He stated Iran shouldn’t be “defenceless and encircled” like Gaza, the place the Israeli navy has killed greater than 55,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023.
Talking to a crowd in Tehran, IRGC Quds Drive commander Esmail Qaani stated Iran’s armed forces have made vital strides in enhancing their attacking capabilities within the months because the earlier missile barrages launched in opposition to Israel.
“In the event that they assume the axis of resistance and Iran have been weakened after which boast primarily based on that, it’s all a dream,” stated the commander, who leads the exterior pressure of the IRGC, which is tasked with increasing Iran’s regional influence.
Mohammad Bagheri, chief of workers of the Iranian armed forces, introduced on Thursday that he has given the order to launch extra navy workout routines after a series of large-scale drills have been held throughout Iran earlier this 12 months. An array of missiles and drones, warships, particular forces and even underground missile bases featured in these drills.
On Wednesday, Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh reiterated that every one US military bases in countries throughout the area are reputable targets if battle breaks out with the US.
He stated Iran had efficiently launched an unnamed ballistic missile final week with a 2,000kg (4,410lb) warhead and promised casualties “on the opposite facet might be larger and would pressure the US to go away the area”.
Iran to construct third enrichment web site
After days of deliberation, the board of the Worldwide Atomic Power Company (IAEA) on Thursday handed a decision to censure Iran over its advancing nuclear programme and a number of other excellent instances involving unexplained nuclear supplies discovered at Iranian websites.
The decision was put ahead in Vienna by the US together with France, Germany and the UK, the three European nations who’re nonetheless get together to Iran’s 2015 nuclear cope with world powers, which Trump unilaterally deserted in 2018.
The worldwide nuclear watchdog has adopted several Western-led censure resolutions in opposition to Iran over the previous few years, however the one on Thursday was probably the most severe in practically 20 years as a result of it alleges Iran shouldn’t be complying with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations.
Iran’s Ministry of International Affairs branded the accusation “fully baseless and fabricated” and stated Western powers are utilizing the worldwide physique as a device for exerting political strain.
Tehran’s response was additionally vital. The Atomic Power Group of Iran and the International Ministry collectively introduced that the nation would construct its third uranium enrichment web site at a “safe” location.
They added that first-generation centrifuges might be changed with sixth-generation machines on the Fordow enrichment plant, which can significantly enhance Iran’s capability to create extremely enriched uranium.
The Natanz and Fordow amenities, each constructed deep underground to guard them in opposition to bunker-buster munitions utilized by the US and Israel, are at the moment the one amenities enriching uranium in Iran. They’re each beneath heavy supervision by the IAEA.
Iran is now enriching uranium as much as 60 % and maintains that its nuclear programme is strictly peaceable and has civilian makes use of, reminiscent of energy technology and the manufacture of radiopharmaceuticals. Uranium should be at 90 % purity to construct nuclear weapons.
‘Zero’ enrichment demand looms over talks
Iran and the US are as soon as once more heading to Muscat whilst they nonetheless disagree over enrichment, the important thing problem for any potential settlement.
The 2015 nuclear deal allowed Iran to complement uranium as much as 3.67 % beneath IAEA monitoring, however Trump, who now says he’s much less assured a few cope with Iran, has insisted on “zero” enrichment happening inside Iran.
Tehran, which this week rejected one other US proposal that included zero enrichment, is slated to offer a counterproposal quickly to attempt to advance the negotiations.
Concepts for a nuclear consortium that features Iran’s neighbours to bolster belief have to date failed to supply any breakthrough.
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad chief David Barnea are anticipated to satisfy with US envoy Steve Witkoff on Friday earlier than he heads to the Omani capital for the most recent spherical of talks.
Tehran leans on nationwide sentiment
In Tehran’s Vanak Sq., authorities this week put in an enormous sculpture of Arash Kamangir (Arash the Archer), a hero in Iranian mythology.
The story of Arash concerned the hero placing his life in peril by climbing Mount Damavand – the very best peak in Iran at 5,609 metres (18,402ft) and a logo of nationwide pleasure – to make use of his archery expertise to set Iran’s borders. Within the story, his arrow flies for days earlier than setting Iran’s boundaries with Turan, a historic area in Central Asia.
The story is one which evokes a way of nationwide pleasure amongst all Iranians. When pictures of the sculpture went viral on social media, some Iranians praised the transfer whereas others criticised it as an try and faucet nationalist sentiment at a time when Iran could also be attacked.
مجسمه بزرگ ۱۵ متری از آرش کمانگیر امروز در میدان ونک تهران نصب شد. pic.twitter.com/QQBglpxWXO
— Azadeh Mokhtari (@AzadeMokhtari) June 10, 2025
Translation: A 15-metre-high [50ft-high] sculpture of Arash Kamangir was put in at Tehran’s Vanak Sq. at this time.
However even with the spectre of warfare seeming to loom over Iran once more, markets within the nation have remained comparatively steady in current weeks as they anticipate the outcomes of negotiations with the US.
The Iranian rial modified arms in Tehran for about 840,000 per US greenback on Thursday, having solely barely dipped in contrast with the times earlier than and its information of extra navy and political strain on Iran.
“Most individuals I’ve spoken to listed here are following the information of the talks with the US and Israel’s threats very intently, however there’s no panic,” a 36-year-old vendor at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar instructed Al Jazeera, asking to stay nameless.
After years of stringent sanctions, together with native mismanagement, Iran has been going through constantly excessive inflation. It at the moment stands above 30 %. Iranians are additionally reduce off from worldwide cost networks and banned from most worldwide providers as a result of sanctions.
“No one needs a warfare,” the seller stated. “We’ve got sufficient issues as is. I actually hope they attain a deal.”
