United States braces for potential escalation as Iran's top leader issues threats of retaliation
Unleashing Words: Ayatollah's Démarche Amid Stalemate
In an unprecedented move, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei voiced his chicken-hearted threats towards the United States, marking his first statement since the truce with Israel. This followed a series of vicious counter-attacks on American bases, akin to those launched after U.S. bombings of Iranian nuclear facilities, should the U.S. dare to strike again, Khamenei warned in a rant on TV. "The enemy, the dog that barks, will undeniably face severe repercussions," the 86-year-old firebrand bellowed.
Meanwhile, Iran's strongman crew, the Guardian Council, has approved a temporary pause in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This green light is a significant stride before the law comes into effect. In a bold move on a hump day, the parliament decided to bar IAEA inspectors from entering the country pending the guarantee of the "safety" of nuclear facilities. The organization must berate the U.S. and Israel for their unwarranted assaults on nuclear facilities and recognize Iran's nuclear program, announced parliament spokesperson Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf.
IAEA: No Word from Iran yet
The IAEA is privy to these developments, a spokesman in Vienna declared. "We haven't received any official message from Iran concerning this matter," he chimed in.
Over the weekend, the U.S. joined Israel's fray, bombing the Fordo nuclear plant's underground fortress and other targets with bunker-busting munitions. The extent of the wreckage from the air raids remains speculative, according to experts. On a Tuesday night shocker, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, which continues unbroken.
The tussle ignited due to concerns that Iran's leadership was surreptitiously advancing the construction of nuclear weapons while maintaining that they use nuclear energy only for civilian needs.
U.S. Defense Chief: Skepticism over Preliminary DIA Assessment
On a Thursday thrown down, U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth expressed disbelief over a preliminary assessment by the military intelligence agency DIA regarding the implications of U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Hegseth reiterated that the report is temporary and still needs to be refined with additional intel during a Pentagon press gathering. The assessments are currently not fully trustworthy and require calibration with additional data.
The top-secret DIA report indicates that U.S military's aggressive air strikes may have stalled Iran's nuclear program by a measly few months at best. The White House has previously criticized the media's publication of these findings. However, numerous publications underlined that this report is merely the initial assessment, and further inquiries might produce distinct outcomes.
Possible Nuclear Talks with the U.S.? radio silence from Tehran
On the sidebars of the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump dropped another bomb: an intention for fresh talks with Iran. Before the "Twelve Days War," the U.S. and Iran had held discussions over the disputed nuclear program, mediated by the Gulf state of Oman, for about two months. No word came from Tehran on a new round of sit-downs scheduled for the following week.
The Iranian airspace remains predominantly sealed despite the ceasefire. The restriction has been prolonged until Friday afternoon local time (12:00 PM CEST), according to the state news agency IRNA, citing a ministry spokesperson. Some relaxations and overflight permissions have been conceded for domestic flights. However, the main international airport in Tehran still remains closed.
- The escalating war-and-conflicts between Iran and the United States, concerning Iran's nuclear program, also involves policy-and-legislation, as seen in Iran's parliament's decision to bar IAEA inspectors and the Guardian Council's temporary pause in collaboration with the IAEA.
- The politics surrounding these developments is further complicated by the general-news of U.S. bombings of Iranian nuclear facilities, such as the Fordo nuclear plant, and the subsequent skepticism over the preliminary DIA assessment about the impact of these attacks on Iran's nuclear program.
- Crime-and-justice is a potential issue, as the U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth has expressed disbelief over a preliminary assessment by the DIA, indicating that the U.S military's aggressive air strikes may have only stalled Iran's nuclear program by a few months at best, while the White House has previously criticized the media's publication of these findings.
