According to Khabaronline, an Iranian news agency, Shamkhani, reacting to Trump’s remarks, wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account: “In Iran’s defense doctrine, some responses are determined long before threats reach the execution stage. Iran’s missile and defensive capability is neither containable nor in need of permission. Any aggression will receive a harsh, immediate response beyond the imagination of its planners.”
The U.S. president, during a reception for the Israeli prime minister, made threatening remarks against Iran.
In a claim against Iran, he said: “I’ve heard that Iran is trying to rebuild (its nuclear capabilities), and if they do that, we will destroy it. Of course, I hope that doesn’t happen.”
While the United States left the negotiations unfinished, the U.S. president claimed: “Iran could have reached a diplomatic agreement with us before the summer attacks.”
Trump again spoke about negotiations with Iran, saying: “I’ve heard Iran wants to make a deal. If they want to make a deal, that would be much smarter.”
In response to a question about whether he would allow Benjamin Netanyahu to attack Iran again, Donald Trump said: “For ballistic missiles, yes. For nuclear weapons, quickly!”
Asked whether he supports the overthrow of the Iranian regime, the U.S. president said: “I don’t want to talk about overthrowing a regime. They have many problems. They have terrible inflation, their economy is destroyed, their economy is not good, and I know the people are not very happy.”
“But don’t forget, every time there is an uprising or someone forms a small or large group, they start shooting people, you know, killing people. I’ve watched this for years. There is massive dissatisfaction. They are very evil people, he added.”
Ahead of Netanyahu’s visit, media outlets and political analysts over the past week had identified Iran as one of the main reasons for the trip and the meeting. They reported that, in addition to Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s missile capabilities were expected to be discussed, and that Netanyahu was seeking renewed approval from Trump for a possible military confrontation with Iran.
Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had previously stated that Iran’s missile program has been developed solely to defend the country’s sovereignty and is fundamentally not a subject for negotiation.
He said that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s defensive capabilities are designed to deter aggressors from any notion of attacking Iran and are in no way an issue open to discussion or bargaining.