Tehran, Iran – Iranian officials are standing firm amidst fears that Israel might strike Iran following the global nuclear watchdog’s adoption of another censure resolution led by Western nations.
While Oman confirmed on Thursday that it will facilitate a sixth round of discussions this Sunday between Iran and the United States regarding Tehran’s nuclear activities, reports from sources like The New York Times indicate that Israel is “prepared” to attack Iran even without U.S. military support. Israel has long expressed intentions to target Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump also initiated a partial evacuation of embassy personnel in Iraq and the families of U.S. staff throughout the Middle East, signaling rising tensions in the area.
“I don’t want to say imminent, but it seems that it’s quite likely,” Trump stated during a White House event on Thursday regarding the prospect of an Israeli strike.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared in a televised address from the western city of Ilam on Thursday, “We will not succumb to America’s pressure and intimidation,” noting Iran’s resilience during an eight-year invasion by Iraq in the 1980s, which received foreign support.
Hossein Salami, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), warned on state television that any Israeli attack would elicit a “historic” response far exceeding Iran’s previous two retaliatory strikes on Israel last year.
He emphasized that Iran is not “helpless and encircled” like Gaza, where over 55,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023, by the Israeli military.
In a speech to a Tehran crowd, Esmail Qaani, the IRGC Quds Force commander, mentioned that Iran’s armed forces have significantly enhanced their offensive capabilities since the last missile strikes against Israel.
“Those who believe that the axis of resistance and Iran are weakened and boast about it are living in a delusion,” said the commander, who oversees the IRGC’s external operations aimed at expanding Iran’s influence in the region.
On Thursday, Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, announced orders to initiate additional military exercises after previously held large-scale drills earlier this year, showcasing various military assets, including missiles, drones, and naval forces.
On Wednesday, Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh reiterated that all U.S. military bases in the region would be considered legitimate targets if hostilities arose between Iran and the U.S.
He claimed Iran successfully launched an unspecified ballistic missile last week equipped with a 2,000kg (4,410lb) warhead, predicting that casualties “on the other side would be greater and would compel the U.S. to withdraw from the region.”
Iran to Establish Third Enrichment Facility
Following deliberations, the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) approved a resolution on Thursday criticizing Iran for its progressing nuclear program and unresolved issues concerning unexplained nuclear materials found at various Iranian sites.
The resolution was introduced in Vienna by the U.S. along with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, the three European nations still involved in Iran’s 2015 nuclear agreement, which Trump unilaterally exited in 2018.
Over recent years, the global nuclear watchdog has passed several Western-led censure resolutions against Iran, but Thursday’s was notably more severe, claiming that Iran is not adhering to its nuclear nonproliferation commitments.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the allegations as “entirely unfounded and fabricated,” asserting that Western nations are utilizing the international body for political leverage.
In a notable move, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and the Foreign Ministry jointly announced the plan to construct a third uranium enrichment site at a “secure” location.
They also indicated that the first-generation centrifuges at the Fordow enrichment facility will be replaced with sixth-generation machines, significantly enhancing Iran’s capacity to produce highly enriched uranium.
The Natanz and Fordow sites, both built deep underground to protect against bunker-buster bombs employed by the U.S. and Israel, are currently the only facilities in Iran enriching uranium and are under rigorous monitoring by the IAEA.
Iran is currently enriching uranium to 60 percent purity, maintaining that its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes, including power generation and the manufacture of radiopharmaceuticals. For nuclear weapons, uranium must reach 90 percent purity.
‘Zero’ Enrichment Demand Overshadowing Talks
Iran and the U.S. are heading back to Muscat amid ongoing disagreements over uranium enrichment, a crucial sticking point for any potential agreement.
The 2015 nuclear deal permitted Iran to enrich uranium up to 3.67 percent under IAEA oversight; however, Trump has now emphasized a position of “zero” enrichment being allowed in Iran.
Tehran, which rejected a recent U.S. proposal that demanded zero enrichment, plans to present a counterproposal soon as part of its negotiations efforts.
Previous ideas for a nuclear consortium involving Iran’s neighbors to build trust have not yet yielded any breakthroughs.
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Mossad chief David Barnea are scheduled to meet with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on Friday, prior to his departure to Oman for the discussions.
Tehran Appeals to National Sentiment
In Tehran’s Vanak Square, officials recently erected a large statue of Arash Kamangir (Arash the Archer), a figure of significant stature in Iranian folklore.
The tale of Arash involves the hero risking his life by scaling Mount Damavand, Iran’s tallest mountain at 5,609 meters (18,402 feet), using his archery skills to determine Iran’s borders. In the narrative, his arrow travels for days before defining the boundaries with Turan, an ancient region in Central Asia.
This story is one that resonates strongly with national pride among Iranians. As images of the statue circulated on social media, reactions were mixed, with some praising the initiative while others criticized it as a tactic to stir nationalist feelings amid the threat of potential conflict.
مجسمه بزرگ ۱۵ متری از آرش کمانگیر امروز در میدان ونک تهران نصب شد. pic.twitter.com/QQBglpxWXO
— Azadeh Mokhtari (@AzadeMokhtari) June 10, 2025
Translation: A 15-meter-high [50-ft-high] sculpture of Arash Kamangir was installed at Tehran’s Vanak Square today.
Despite the looming threat of war, Iran’s markets have remained relatively stable in recent weeks as they await the outcomes of negotiations with the U.S.
The Iranian rial traded for approximately 840,000 to the U.S. dollar on Thursday, only slightly lower than before, despite increasing military and political pressure on Iran.
“Most people I’ve spoken to are closely monitoring the news of the talks with the U.S. and Israel’s threats, but there’s no panic,” shared a 36-year-old vendor at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar with Al Jazeera, preferring to stay anonymous.
After enduring years of strict sanctions coupled with local mismanagement, Iran has been grappling with persistent high inflation, currently exceeding 30 percent. Sanctions have barred Iranians from participating in international payment networks and accessing a range of global services.
“Nobody wants a war,” the vendor emphasized. “We have enough problems already. I sincerely hope they come to an agreement.”
