Iran Denounces Israeli Military Threats Amid Nuclear Tensions

Iran has condemned Israeli threats of military action against its nuclear program, calling them ‘outrageous.’ This reaction follows Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s assertion that Iran is close to developing nuclear weapons. Tehran asserts its nuclear activities are peaceful, despite U.S. sanctions and heightened regional tensions. Talks to restore the 2015 nuclear deal have stalled amid these developments.

On Thursday, Iran’s foreign ministry condemned recent threats from Israel as “outrageous,” following remarks made by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar regarding Iran’s nuclear program. In an interview with Politico, Saar asserted that Iran had accumulated sufficient uranium to potentially create nuclear weapons and emphasized the urgency of a credible military response to curtail these advancements.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, criticized Saar’s comments, labeling them as “outrageous and irrational.” He noted that Israel’s military threats against Iran occur concurrently with Western accusations against Tehran regarding its defense capabilities. Baqaei stressed that in a region impacted by what he termed an “occupying entity,” bolstering defense is both responsible and necessary.

Earlier in the month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, indicated that Israel would take decisive action against Iran, backed by U.S. support. The historic adversarial relationship between Iran and Israel, characterized by extreme hostilities, has persisted for decades and intensified recently due to escalating regional tensions following the Gaza conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump, after resuming office, reinstated a stringent sanctions policy against Iran, similar to his earlier tenure. This policy included the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and its negotiating partners, citing concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which Iran has continuously denied.

Subsequent to the U.S. withdrawal, Iran maintained compliance with the deal for a year before gradually scaling back its commitments. Notably, efforts to reinstate the agreement have stalled. A recent report from the International Atomic Energy Agency revealed a significant increase in Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, although Iran insists its nuclear endeavors are peaceful and denies any weapons development intents. Recently, Trump proposed reopening negotiations with Iran, to which Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei responded that engaging in talks with the U.S. would not resolve any issues.

In summary, Iran has vehemently rejected Israel’s military threats, characterizing them as unfounded. The discourse is further complicated by the historical animosity and ongoing tensions between the two nations, exacerbated by external influences from the United States. The situation remains dynamic, particularly regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its relationship with both Israel and the United States.

Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com