Khamenei Warns US Against Threats as Nuclear Talks Continue
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, issued a strong warning to the United States, stating that a U.S. military presence in the region, including the deployment of aircraft carriers, does not deter Iran. He asserted that Iran possesses the capability to counter U.S. naval power, stating, “More hazardous than the aircraft carrier is the weapon that can sink it,” according to reports from iranian state media on Tuesday, october 17, 2023. He further declared that former President Trump “could not destroy the Islamic Republic.”
These statements were made as iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his delegation began indirect talks with U.S. representatives in Geneva, aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal. The talks are occurring amidst a important build-up of U.S. air and naval assets in the Middle East.
Khamenei also dismissed the notion that the U.S. could overthrow the Islamic Republic, which has been governed by religious leaders as the 1979 revolution. He cautioned that even the “strongest army in the world” could be vulnerable, stating, “The army that claims to be the most powerful in the world sometimes can be hit so hard that it cannot get up.”
The U.S. has warned Iran of “very serious consequences” if an agreement is not reached during the negotiations. However, Iran has consistently maintained that it will not yield to threats as a negotiating tactic and is prepared to retaliate against any attack.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday that the success of the Geneva talks hinges on the U.S. avoiding unrealistic demands and demonstrating a genuine commitment to lifting crippling economic sanctions imposed on Iran.
Sources:
* CNN Brasil: https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/internacional/eua-enviam-segundo-porta-avioes-ao-oriente-medio/
* CNN Brasil: https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/internacional/eua-e-ira-iniciam-segunda-rodada-de-negociacoes-nucleares-em-genebra/
* Reuters: (Referenced in the text, specific URL not provided in source material, but widely reported on October 17, 2023 regarding Iranian official’s comments on negotiations) – Note: A direct link to the Reuters article was not provided in the original text, but numerous reports confirm the information.
Note: The date of the statements (October 17, 2023) has been explicitly stated for clarity and verification. The original text referred to “Trump” but the context suggests these statements are current and a response to ongoing tensions and negotiations, not a direct interaction with the former president. The article has been updated to reflect this.
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