proclaimed that if Iran chose to develop nuclear weapons, neither the United States nor Western powers could prevent it. His remarks come amid escalating international tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program, with the UK, France, and Germany (E3) considering triggering the UN’s snapback mechanism under Resolution 2231 to reimpose sanctions on Iran for nuclear violations.
Mahmoudi reinforced Iran’s strategy of nuclear brinkmanship, dismissing diplomatic efforts as futile. He staunchly defended Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s stance against negotiations with Washington, arguing that any call for renewed diplomacy within Iran was misguided. He further stated that opposing Khamenei’s directives would lead to “grave misguidance,” quoting the Quran to emphasize absolute loyalty to Iran’s leadership.
The cleric’s speech also mocked Western concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities. While insisting that Iran had voluntarily refrained from developing nuclear weapons due to “religious principles,” he simultaneously boasted of the country’s advanced uranium enrichment capabilities. “We have already reached 60% enrichment,” he declared. “If we wanted to go further—to 70%, 80%, or even 90%—we could easily do so.” Comparing nuclear development to writing a second line of text after the first, Mahmoudi dismissed Western pressure as ineffective.
#Iran News in Brief
Nasr Hosseini, Friday prayer leader in Yasuj: “We have National Nuclear Technology Day on Monday, and we must possess this knowledge. If necessary, perhaps we request the esteemed authorities to pave the way for the development of a #nuclearweapon.”… pic.twitter.com/iqSdIhjc1a— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 7, 2024
Similar rhetoric was echoed in other parts of Iran. In Karaj, Ayatollah Seyed Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini Hamedani insisted that Iran’s adversarial stance against the West was unavoidable. “They are well aware of our power,” he stated. “If Iran ever decides to build a nuclear weapon, they are too insignificant to stop it.”
These statements follow a series of nuclear threats from Iranian officials in recent months. On March 8, Iranian MP Mohammad Motamedizadeh boasted that Iran could develop nuclear weapons “as easily as drinking water.” In February, a state-affiliated publication argued that Tehran should pursue nuclear weapons to establish a “balance of terror.” Meanwhile, Khamenei’s senior advisor, Kamal Kharrazi, hinted that Iran could shift its nuclear policy in response to external threats.
Iran’s leadership has long employed nuclear threats as a tool of intimidation and domestic morale-boosting. With its economy in turmoil and domestic unrest simmering, officials have used this rhetoric to rally their base while pressuring the international community to avoid harsher sanctions. Mahmoudi further accused the U.S. of using negotiations as a “deceptive tool” to weaken Iran, insisting that Khamenei’s guidance was essential to neutralizing foreign threats.
#Iran News: Larijani Claims Tehran Can Achieve Military #Nuclear Readiness in 24 Hourshttps://t.co/KtTUnFtBPs
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) November 19, 2024
As Tehran escalates its nuclear posturing, the international community faces a critical decision: whether to confront the growing threat or risk enabling it through inaction. With Iran already leveraging its nuclear capabilities for strategic gains, the consequences of allowing it to progress unchecked could be catastrophic. The coming months will likely test the resolve of global powers in addressing one of the most pressing security challenges of the modern era.
MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu
