Iran Warns It May Seek Nuclear Weapons if Attacked

An adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader warned on Monday that the country might pursue nuclear weapons if it faces military aggression from the United States or its allies. This statement followed a warning from former US President Donald Trump, who threatened military action against Iran if it refused to agree to a nuclear deal.

Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told Iranian state television that while Iran was not currently seeking nuclear weapons, an attack would force it to reconsider its stance. “We are not moving toward nuclear weapons, but if you make a mistake regarding Iran’s nuclear issue, you will push Iran in that direction because it must defend itself,” he stated, as reported by AFP. “Iran does not want this, but it will have no choice.”

Larijani further emphasized that Iran would reassess its nuclear position if the US or Israel launched an attack. “If at any point you (the US) choose to bomb Iran, either directly or through Israel, you will force Iran to take a different course.”

Rising Tensions Over Nuclear Policy

On Saturday, Trump issued a warning, saying, “There will be bombing” if Iran does not agree to a deal, according to NBC News. It remains unclear whether he was referring to direct US military action or an operation involving an ally like Israel.

Responding to Trump’s remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei declared in a speech that any hostile actions would be met with retaliation. “They threaten to cause trouble, but if they act on it, they will receive a strong counterattack,” he stated.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, also condemned the threats in a letter to the UN Security Council, calling them “warmongering provocations.” He warned that Iran would “respond swiftly and decisively to any act of aggression by the United States or its proxy, the Israeli regime.”

Following Trump’s comments, Iran’s foreign ministry summoned Switzerland’s chargé d’affaires, who represents US interests in Iran, to formally protest the remarks.

Iran’s Military Readiness

General Amirali Hajizadeh, a senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, highlighted the presence of American military assets in the region, warning the US against escalation. “The Americans have at least 10 bases around Iran, with 50,000 troops stationed there,” he said. “Someone in a glass house should not throw stones.”

Since returning to office in January, Trump has revived his “maximum pressure” policy on Iran. During his first term, he withdrew the US from the 2015 nuclear agreement, which had required Iran to limit its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Western nations have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, though Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

Concerns Over Iran’s Nuclear Program

Iran insists that its nuclear program is intended for civilian energy purposes. However, officials have increasingly hinted at the possibility of pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran is currently enriching uranium to 60% purity—just below weapons-grade levels—making it the only country without a declared nuclear weapons program to do so.

Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was restricted to enriching uranium up to 3.67% and maintaining a stockpile of no more than 300 kilograms (661 pounds). However, a recent report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) states that Iran’s uranium stockpile has now reached 8,294.4 kilograms (18,286 pounds), with a portion enriched to 60%.

While US intelligence agencies believe Iran has not yet taken concrete steps to build a nuclear weapon, they acknowledge that Tehran has positioned itself to develop one if it chooses.

Why Are US-Iran Relations Hostile?

Iran was once a close US ally under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who purchased American weapons and allowed the CIA to operate listening posts against the Soviet Union. His rule was strengthened by a CIA-backed coup in 1953.

However, in 1979, following growing protests and the shah’s battle with cancer, he left Iran, paving the way for the Islamic Revolution led by Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. This resulted in the establishment of Iran’s theocratic government.

Later that year, Iranian university students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran, demanding the shah’s extradition. This led to a 444-day hostage crisis and the severing of US-Iran diplomatic ties.

During the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), the US backed Iraq’s leader, Saddam Hussein, providing military support. The conflict escalated into the “Tanker War,” during which the US launched military strikes that weakened Iran’s navy. A US warship also mistakenly shot down an Iranian passenger plane, further straining relations.

Over the decades, US-Iran ties have oscillated between confrontation and limited diplomacy. Tensions briefly eased with the 2015 nuclear agreement, but Trump’s withdrawal from the deal reignited hostilities—animosity that continues to shape US-Iran relations today.