A senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a warning on Thursday that Iran might expel inspectors from the UN’s nuclear watchdog as “threats” escalate ahead of crucial talks with the United States.
Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani’s remarks mark the first official Iranian response since US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that military action against Iran was “absolutely” possible if diplomatic efforts failed to yield an agreement.
“The continuation of external threats and Iran being in a state of military attack may lead to deterrent measures, including expulsion of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency and cessation of cooperation,” Shamkhani conveyed on X.
“Transfer of enriched materials to secure locations may also be considered,” he added.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is scheduled to meet with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in the Gulf sultanate of Oman on Saturday for discussions that Washington has framed as the final opportunity for a peaceful resolution to Western concerns regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
Last month, President Trump sent a letter to Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority on state matters in Iran, urging direct negotiations while also cautioning about potential military action should diplomacy fail.
“If necessary, absolutely,” Trump told reporters on Wednesday when questioned about the possibility of military intervention. “If it requires military, we’re going to have military. Israel will obviously be very much involved in that, be the leader of that.”
Iran has consistently maintained its opposition to direct negotiations with its primary adversary but has indicated a willingness to engage in indirect talks.
In 2015, Iran reached a significant nuclear agreement with major world powers, which provided relief from international sanctions in exchange for limitations on its nuclear activities, subject to monitoring by UN inspectors.
However, in 2018, during President Trump’s initial term in office, the United States withdrew from the agreement and reimposed stringent sanctions on Iran.
Subsequently, a year later, Iran began to retract its commitments under the agreement and accelerated its nuclear program.
