Iran has warned that if conflict breaks out, it will target U.S. military bases in the region. U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed that he is “less confident” about reaching a nuclear agreement.
Since last April, Tehran and Washington have held five rounds of talks aimed at establishing a new nuclear deal to replace the 2015 agreement between Iran and world powers, which Trump had withdrawn from during his first term in office in 2018.
After returning to power this past January, President Trump has revived his “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran and expressed support for nuclear diplomacy—but has also warned of military action if negotiations fail.
In response to the U.S. threat of military action, Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasir Jadeh stated, “All of their bases are within our reach. We have access to them, and without hesitation, we will target all military bases located in countries where the U.S. has found shelter.”
“By God’s grace, the situation will not reach that point, and the talks will succeed,” he added. “But if the U.S. side enters into conflict, it will have to bear further consequences.”
The United States has numerous military bases in the Middle East, with its largest base located in Qatar.
Recently, a diplomatic deadlock has emerged between Iran and the United States over Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Tehran has defended it as a “non-negotiable” right, while Washington has described it as the “final red line” for any deal.
During his Gulf visit last month, President Trump stated that the two sides were close to reaching an agreement and expressed optimism about the negotiations. However, in an interview published on Wednesday, he said he was “less confident” about a deal being reached between the U.S. and Iran, when asked whether Tehran could be stopped from enriching uranium.
