Iran Declares Military Strength Non-Negotiable Ahead of Fresh US Nuclear Talks
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has firmly stated that the country’s military capabilities will not be up for discussion in the upcoming talks with the United States regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.
Speaking to state broadcaster IRIB on Tuesday, IRGC spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini emphasized that Iran’s defense and military strength are “non-negotiable red lines” that will not be compromised under any conditions.
This declaration comes just days before a second round of nuclear discussions is set to take place in Muscat, Oman, following recent high-level meetings between US and Iranian officials—the most significant dialogue since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear agreement.
President Donald Trump, who withdrew the US from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) during his first term, has since resumed a hardline approach toward Tehran, reimposing strict sanctions and reviving the “maximum pressure” strategy since returning to office in January.
Reports indicate that in March, Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging renewed talks on the nuclear issue while simultaneously threatening military consequences if Tehran refused to engage.
Speaking to the press on Monday, Trump expressed confidence in resolving the Iran issue, referring to it as “almost an easy one,” while once again criticizing Iranian leaders and suggesting potential strikes on nuclear facilities if diplomacy fails.
Tehran, however, continues to assert that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful, aimed primarily at energy generation, and denies any intention of developing nuclear weapons.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reiterated on Sunday that Iran’s regional influence and its missile program remain key red lines in any negotiations with the US.
In a related diplomatic effort, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Muscat on April 12 for indirect discussions. Araghchi is also scheduled to visit Moscow later this week for consultations with Russian officials. Russia, a signatory to the original nuclear deal and an ally of Iran, has welcomed the talks and cautioned that any military escalation would lead to severe global consequences.
These ongoing diplomatic engagements mark the highest-level contact between Washington and Tehran on the nuclear issue since the JCPOA’s collapse. Despite decades of hostility and no formal diplomatic ties since 1979, both sides have described the current talks as “constructive.”
