"Iran is at an extremely high level in terms of its ability to counter hard warfare threats," Iranian Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei tweeted on Monday.
Today, Islamic Iran is at an extremely high level in terms of its ability to counter hard warfare threats.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) February 17, 2025
Khamenei on Wednesday tweeted that "advancements in the defense sector should not be stopped...progress must continue."
Advancements in the defense sector should not be stopped. For example, a particular threshold of missile accuracy may have been considered to be enough in the past, but now we feel that’s insufficient and that we must make even further advancements. Progress must continue.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) February 12, 2025
Iran has defended its nuclear program and will not be hesitant to continue doing so, Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday, a day after Israel and the US vowed to counter Iran's nuclear ambitions.
"Iran's peaceful nuclear program is ongoing, and has been for the last three decades, based on Iran's rights as a member in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons... definitely we will not show any weakness in this regard," he said.
Israel and the United States are determined to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions and its influence in the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday after meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jerusalem.
Rubio said: "Behind every terrorist group, behind every act of violence, behind every destabilizing activity, behind everything that threatens peace and stability for the millions of people that call this region home, is Iran."
In a press conference in Israel, Rubio said that there can not "be a nuclear Iran."
Rubio said that he agreed with Netanyahu that Iran was the "single greatest source of instability of the region."
Iran's increased military capabilities
Iran's threat to Israel has intensified with the launch of its new aircraft carrier, the Shahid Bagheri. The new vessel significantly bolsters Iran’s naval capabilities and raises concerns across the region.
As aircraft carriers are essential for global power projection, Iran’s commissioning of the Shahid Bagheri underscores its intent to expand its naval presence, which heightens tensions in the already volatile Middle East.
Dr. Itay Gal contributed to this report.