A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran said the country “rejects weapons of mass destruction,” but that Tehran will equip itself “to the extent necessary” to protect the country, according to Iran International.
During a press conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei spoke about Iran’s nuclear program amid tensions between itself, the United States, and Israel, following Tel Aviv’s recent attack. Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran for comment via email.
Baghaei said: “The official stance of Iran in rejecting weapons of mass destruction and regarding the peaceful nature of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear program is clear.”
Baghaei continued: “As emphasized in the recent speech by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, we will equip ourselves to the extent necessary for the defense of Iran.”
Baghaei added that Iran will use all of its “material and spiritual resources to respond to the recent aggressions by the Zionist regime.”
The Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s statements are similar to those recently made by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, as he vowed “a tooth-breaking response” to Israel and the U.S., as reported by NBC News.
Khamenei’s adviser, Kamal Kharrazi, also reiterated statements regarding Iran’s defending itself and alluding to possibly changing its policies on nuclear weapons to do so.
Kharrazi said: “If an existential threat arises, Iran will modify its nuclear doctrine. We have the capability to build weapons and have no issue in this regard.”
He added that “the only thing currently prohibiting this is the leader’s fatwa.”
Khamenei issued a fatwa, an official statement or order made by an Islamic religious leader, prohibiting the development of nuclear weapons in the 1990s.
The Supreme Leader’s statements regarding Iran’s defense have continued to escalate, and on November 2, Khamenei said: “The enemies, whether the Zionist regime or the United States of America, will definitely receive a crushing response to what they are doing to Iran and the Iranian nation and to the resistance front.”
Tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated recently, as Iran launched two major attacks, in April and October, on Israel.
In the April attack, Iran launched 300 missiles and drones into Israel, which they said was in response to the deaths of Iranian soldiers in Syria.
Iran also launched an attack on Israel on October 1 and sent approximately 180 missiles into Israel.
Israel retaliated and attacked Iran on October 25 and carried out airstrikes in the country’s capital.
In another recent attack on Iran, Israel also damaged a facility operated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in which they produced ballistic missiles and launching rockets.
Iran has reiterated that they believe the U.S. is complicit in Israel’s attacks, and said so as recently as November 3. The Foreign Ministry’s statement for the 13th Aban anniversary “National Day of Countering Global Arrogance” said the “U.S.’s unlawful interference and cruel pressures against Iran continue up to now, including in the form of inhuman sanctions and unlimited support for Israeli rogue behavior.”
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