Iran has threatened a “ferocious” response to U.S. military threats while preparing for a critical round of nuclear talks in Geneva against a backdrop of renewed domestic protests and a massive regional military buildup.
Tehran on Monday issued a “ferocious” warning of retaliation and regional conflict in response to President Donald Trump’s 15-day ultimatum for a nuclear deal, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei asserting that any strike “would be regarded as an act of aggression” and met with a severe military response. The bellicose rhetoric coincides with a massive U.S. military buildup in the Middle East and the announcement that indirect negotiations will resume in Geneva this Thursday, where Iran is expected to present a draft proposal.
Amidst these external pressures, the Iranian president government is also facing a domestic crisis; university students have reignited anti-government protests, burning flags and chanting “down with the Islamic republic” to commemorate the thousands killed in a January crackdown that human rights groups estimate claimed over 7,000 lives. While Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi described the upcoming talks as a “new window of opportunity,” he warned that “the consequences of any renewed aggression wouldn’t remain confined to one country,” even as several nations, including India and Poland, have urged their citizens to evacuate Iran.