'U.S. Will Have No Choice But to Leave the Region If Nuclear Talks Fail': Iran's Defense Minister
He emphasized that all U.S. bases in the Middle East are within the operational range of Iran’s military capabilities, adding that Iran would not hesitate to strike them, even in the host countries where those bases are located.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh warned on Wednesday that if ongoing nuclear negotiations with the United States collapse and conflict ensues, the U.S. would face significant casualties and ultimately be forced to withdraw from the region.
According to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Nasirzadeh issued the remarks during a press briefing on the sidelines of the cabinet session in Tehran, responding to recent statements by U.S. officials that he characterized as "threatening."
"Some officials from the opposing side have unfortunately made threatening comments, hinting at the possibility of conflict if an agreement isn’t reached,” Nasirzadeh said. “Should such a scenario occur, the adversary will undoubtedly suffer severe losses, and the U.S. will have no choice but to leave the region."
He emphasized that all U.S. bases in the Middle East are within the operational range of Iran’s military capabilities, adding that Iran would not hesitate to strike them, even in the host countries where those bases are located.
In a show of Iran’s growing military strength, the defense minister also revealed that Tehran had recently carried out a successful missile test involving a two-ton warhead — a development he described as a "significant achievement" in the country’s defense program.
Nasirzadeh firmly rejected any discussions on curbing Iran’s military capabilities. “Iran will never accept any military limitations,” he stated. “Negotiations on this subject are absolutely forbidden.”
The latest remarks come as indirect talks continue between Tehran and Washington, with a sixth round of talks scheduled for Sunday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed the upcoming negotiations in a statement on Tuesday.
Since April, Tehran and Washington have engaged in five rounds of "indirect" discussions aimed at establishing a new nuclear agreement to replace the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which Trump unilaterally withdrew from during his first term presidency in 2018.
