Tehran, Iran – In a new diplomatic escalation reflecting heightened tensions in the Middle East, Iran declared its missile program “non-negotiable.” This came in response to intelligence and media reports alleging US-Israeli coordination for a new attack targeting Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities.
Missiles: A “Shield for National Security”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei asserted at a press conference today that his country’s missile capabilities were developed exclusively for “national security defense.” He added that they deter any potential aggression, emphasizing that this is a “sovereign and inviolable” matter.
These statements came in response to news of the upcoming meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump. At this meeting, the Israeli side is expected to present military options for striking deep inside Iran, claiming to have detected unusual air movements by the Revolutionary Guard and missile exercises described as a “cover for preparing an attack.”
The crisis of inspectors and affected facilities
Regarding relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Baqai blocked attempts by the agency’s Director General, Rafael Grossi, to prevent inspections of recently bombed sites, arguing that Grossi was seeking “political exploitation.”
These statements coincided with reports from NBC News and Axios indicating a state of high alert within Western intelligence circles. This followed the detection of intensive air and missile activity inside Iran, which heightened Washington and Tel Aviv’s fears of a preemptive strike or an imminent Iranian response.
Summary of the situation
Tehran clings to its “missile deterrence” strategy and rejects any international oversight of the damage inflicted on its bombed facilities. Meanwhile, the hawkish wing in Washington (led by Senator Lindsey Graham) and Tel Aviv are pushing for military action to prevent Iran from reviving its missile and nuclear programs.
