As the United States and Iran engaged in escalating military exchanges this weekend, Iranian state media declared that nuclear weapons are now indispensable for Tehran to secure meaningful negotiations with Washington.
This follows President Trump’s repeated threats that Iran might “no longer exist” if U.S. forces were compelled to “militarily complete the job” it began on Israel’s behalf on February 26.
Despite efforts to establish a communication channel to prevent further conflict, the ceasefire established under the June 17 Memorandum of Understanding appears dead.
The recent escalation began when Iran struck a Singapore-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. This prompted a swift U.S. retaliatory strike on Iranian coastal drone and missile storage facilities, followed by an attack by Iran on Bahrain.
On Sunday, Tehran targeted eight American military installations at a U.S. Navy base in Bahrain and the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, claiming retaliation for prior U.S. actions. Early Sunday, there were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage to U.S. assets, according to an anonymous U.S. official.
President Trump posted a social media message stating that the barrage was intended to punish Iran for violating the current cease-fire agreement. Iranian state media reported explosions in coastal cities near the Strait of Hormuz and characterized the strikes as a “violation of the cease-fire.” The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps warned that American bases in the region “will be experiencing hell during these days.”
Iranian state media has also cited President Trump’s April warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” and his May threat of “one big glow coming out of Iran” as key reasons for pursuing nuclear capabilities.
It remains unclear whether continued hostilities will derail efforts to reach a final peace agreement.