An aerial view of the Arak power plant on June 19, 2025, in central Iran. (Credit: Maxar Technologies/AFP)
The central Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters of Iran’s military responded Saturday to a statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding Iran’s nuclear program, saying nuclear weapons were necessary ‘’to counter Israeli madness.’’ Netanyahu had declared that ‘’nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran would mean the end of Israel.’’
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Iranian military institution, wrote on X, addressing the Israeli prime minister: ‘’You have already devastated Gaza, Palestine and Lebanon, and now you are seeking to destroy Iran. Therefore, we need nuclear weapons to counter your madness…’’ Iran’s message is clear: Nuclear capability is being presented as a means of deterrence against further Israeli aggression.
Iran’s nuclear program is one of the main stated causes of the Israeli-American offensive against Iran, which began Feb. 28, 2026. The issue has since been overshadowed by developments surrounding control of the Strait of Hormuz. An Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites preceded the war in May 2025, although the extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear capabilities remains uncertain.
International efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons predate the latest war by many years. Iranian authorities have generally rejected accusations that they seek nuclear weapons, maintaining that their nuclear program is strictly civilian. A statement as explicit as Zolfaghari’s on Saturday is unusual.
Diplomacy and defense, ‘complementary’ tools
Meanwhile, the Iranian government pledged Saturday to remain firm in the face of U.S. sanctions and what it described as American-Israeli ‘’plots,’’ insisting that diplomacy and defense are ‘’complementary, coordinated and inseparable’’ tools for protecting the country’s national interests, security and territorial integrity.
In a statement published by Iranian state media and carried by Reuters, the government said it would continue to pursue both strategies simultaneously while focusing on controlling inflation, creating jobs, supporting domestic production and gradually reducing dependence on the dollar.
The United States and Iran reached a tentative agreement last June, opening the way for 60 days of talks toward a final deal. The situation has since deteriorated. Following new U.S. strikes on Iran, which retaliated with attacks against its Gulf neighbors, U.S. President Donald Trump adopted a policy of economic pressure and sanctions.
