Latest news with #AliLarijani
Arab News
20-05-2025
- Health
- Arab News
Saudi-Iranian advisors and health ministers meet
Mohammed Al-Yahya, adviser to Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, recently met with Ali Larijani, adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran. During the meeting, the officials discussed issues of mutual interest. This comes after Saudi Arabia's Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman's visit to the Iranian capital recently and the renewed diplomatic engagement between the two countries. Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of Health Fahad AlJalajel met with his Iranian counterpart Mohammed Reza Zafarghandi at the 78th session of the World Health Assembly in Geneva on Tuesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Ahram Weekly
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Preparations for war on Iran - World - Al-Ahram Weekly
The US has been moving men and equipment within striking distance of the Middle East, apparently in preparation for an attack on Iran Two weeks ago, six strategic B-2 stealth bombers considered the most powerful in their category from the 509th Wing at the Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri in the US flew to the US Diego Garcia Base in the Indian Ocean. 509th Wing pilots participated in Operation Allied Force in 1999 that attacked the former Yugoslavia with six bombers and Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya that used three bombers in 2011. The presence of six bombers in the Indian Ocean at a distance of 3,795 km from Iran is thus a decisive move by the US administration, effectively dictating terms to an opponent while aiming a pistol at their head. Last week, US President Donald Trump threatened Iran with 'bombing the likes of which they have never seen before' if Tehran refuses to destroy its nuclear programme and cease supporting proxy militias in the Middle East. He repeated in an interview with the US network NBC News that 'if they don't make a deal, there will be bombing.' The next day, Iranian adviser Ali Larijani said in a television interview that 'if America or Israel bomb Iran under the nuclear pretext, Iran will be compelled to move towards producing an atomic bomb.' This week, the country's leader Ayatollah Khamenei said during his speech on Eid Al-Fitr that 'everyone should know that our stances remain unchanged. The animosity of the US and the Zionist regime is the same as it has always been.' 'If there are any vicious acts [from the US or Israel], we aren't so sure that it will happen and we don't believe it's likely that it will come from the outside, but if it does happen, they will definitely receive a strong counterblow,' he said. The distance limits Iran's options should it want to neutralise the threat in Diego Garcia. Its Khorramshahr missiles can barely reach the island under optimal conditions, and Iran's long-range suicide drones like the Shahed-136 may also struggle to do so, unless a ship capable of launching ballistic missiles such as the Shahid Mahdavi is deployed. This ship is capable of launching Kheibar-Shekan missiles, which have a range of up to 1,450 km. The United States is well aware of these risks, and it has deployed Arleigh Burke-class destroyers for air defence around the island, alongside the presence of P8A anti-submarine aircraft. In the wake of the threat from the US, Iran has abandoned the Houthis in Yemen, its strongest remaining militia in the Middle East. A senior Iranian official told the UK Daily Telegraph newspaper that 'Iran has ordered military personnel to leave Yemen.' The move is aimed to avoid direct confrontation with the US and to scale back its network of regional proxies to focus on direct threats from the US instead. Tehran's primary concern, the official said, was 'Trump and how to deal with him.' 'Every meeting is dominated by discussions about him, and none of the regional groups we previously supported are being discussed.' While the Iranians are focusing on Trump's intentions towards Iran, US B-2 bombers are striking the Houthis in the most intense air campaign seen over the past decade at a cost nearing one billion dollars. A US defence official told the US network CNN that 'they've taken out some sites, but that hasn't affected the Houthis' ability to continue shooting at ships in the Red Sea or shooting down US drones. Meanwhile, we are burning through munitions, fuel, and deployment time.' One source said the Pentagon will likely need to request supplemental funding from the US Congress to continue the operation, but that it may not receive it. The offensive has already been criticised on both sides of the aisle in Congress, and even Vice- President J D Vance said he thought the operation was 'a mistake' in a Signal chat published by the US magazine The Atlantic last week. The chat was in a closed group on the app that included officials such as US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlantic, was added to the group by mistake. Hegseth shared details of the US strikes on the Houthis with precision and enthusiasm This is considered to have been a grave mistake and a gamble with the success of the operation and the safety of its crews. The timing of US Navy planes over the targets, commonly referred to as 'play time,' was disclosed, for example, allowing enemy air defences to prepare ambushes. The launch time of the planes was shared, signalling the most vulnerable period for attacking the associated carrier group. The vulnerability arises because its defences cannot engage drones and missiles without risking shooting down US planes as well, something that occurred last December. The Houthis are continuing to attack US naval vessels, though these attacks usually end in failure, similar to their operations targeting Israel, whether with missiles or drones. The US has adapted and organised its defences in a way that ensures the disruption of any offensive efforts by the Houthis. The latter are using rugged mountainous areas in Yemen to hide, staying away from the danger of airstrikes. This means the Houthis cannot be defeated through US airstrikes alone, but this must be done in conjunction with a ground operation. The US is also sending more equipment and units to the Middle East. The open-source intelligence site OSINT says that 85 flights by heavy military transport aircraft belonging to the US Air Force, specifically, the C-17 and C-5 Galaxy, have arrived in the Middle East. They have been accompanied by tactical military transport aircraft of the C-130J type, as well as approximately 10 aerial refuelling aircraft, including the KC-46 and KC-135. This week, the second THAAD air-defence battery arrived in Israel along with two additional Patriot missile batteries to support the country's air defences in case the Iranians decide to respond to any US/Israeli strikes. The first month of Trump's deadline for Iran before attacking it has ended, and this has been made obvious through his statements and the extent of the US forces currently deployed in the Middle East. The strategy is based on the idea of 'sword and shield' – in other words, not a deterrent force for adversaries but rather a force to compel the Iranian side into serious negotiations to dismantle its nuclear programme. The latter is also the pretext that Israel has been clinging to in its efforts at destroying it. It was also one of the main topics that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed with his meeting with Trump this week, alongside the Turkish project in Syria. If a decision to attack Iran is indeed made, the only missing element will be the arrival of the second aircraft carrier group, the Carl Vinson, which crossed the Malacca Strait near the Philippines earlier this week and will arrive in the Gulf within three weeks. All these preparations are groundwork for a campaign for which the Israeli Air Force has trained for many years, with the B-2 bombers delivering 30,000-pound GBU-57 bombs. Meanwhile, the Iranians are striving to bolster their air defences by deploying more early-warning radar along their borders in a desperate attempt to stop the destructive storm heading their way. * A version of this article appears in print in the 10 April, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Memri
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Ali Larijani, Senior Advisor To Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei: If America Or Israel Make The Mistake Of Bombing Iran, It Will Force Us To Go In The Direction Of Building Nuclear Weapons
Ali Larijani, a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and a member of the Expediency Council, stated in an interview with IRINN TV (Iran) aired on March 31, 2025, that an American attack on Iran is unlikely, as the U.S. does not stand to gain from such an action and has learned from its experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. Larijani emphasized that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons; however, he warned that if the U.S. makes a 'mistake on the Iranian nuclear issue,' it will force Iran to pursue nuclear weapons as a means of self-defense. "Iran will have no choice," he said, adding that the U.S. is pushing Iran in this direction. Larijani also noted that if America or Israel bomb Iran, it would leave Iran with no option but to reconsider its stance on nuclear weapons. Ali Larijani: "The reasons that the Leader said that he considered [a U.S. attack] to be unlikely is spot on. Obviously, since our military commanders are very experienced – they have all gone through the [Iran-Iraq] war, and have regional experience – they prepare for unlikely scenarios as well. It is not the case that because a scenario is unlikely, we are not prepared for it. We are fully prepared. But why do we consider this scenario to be unlikely? Because, first of all, what do the Americans stand to gain from this? The Americans spent almost $2 trillion in Afghanistan, in order to get rid of the Taliban. Are the Taliban gone? They are the rulers now. They spent $7-8 trillion [in Iraq] – and they themselves admit that it was a mistake – but had to leave in that shameful way. What do they stand to gain? Iran is much stronger than these two [countries]. Unless the Israelis push them or Mr. Trump makes a mistake, and decides to gamble with his soldiers' heads... A military confrontation with Iran will not come without consequences. [...] "I think America is making a strategic mistake. With regard to the nuclear issue – we have said that there is a fatwa [by Khamenei], and we are operating under the IAEA inspection, and are not pursing [nuclear] weapons. But if you make a mistake on the Iranian nuclear issue, you will force Iran to go in that direction, because Iran will have to defend itself. "You are doing this with your own hands. Iran does not want to do it, but if you exert pressure, it would cause a secondary justification. Iran will have no choice. The public will exert pressure to do it for the sake of the country's security. This will not be in the [Americans'] favor. Even now we are saying that we are not pursing nuclear weapons, and that the IAEA inspection can continue, even forever. We have no problem. We don't want to exaggerate. However, if at any point, you turn to bombing [Iran] – either you or Israel – you will force Iran to make a different decision."
Ya Libnan
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Iran warns it will have ‘no choice' but to go nuclear if attacked
File photo : A report in late November 2020 by the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded that Iran now has more than 12 times the amount of enriched uranium permitted under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. It now has a stockpile of more than 2,442 kilograms, or over 5,385 pounds, of low-enriched uranium. That is enough to produce about two nuclear weapons, according to an analysis of the report by the Institute for Science and International Security. But it would require several months of additional processing to enrich the uranium to bomb-grade material, meaning that Iran would not be close to a bomb until late spring 2021 at the earliest i.e. 4 years ago Ali Larijani states that Iran has no plans to pursue nuclear weapons, but an attack could change its stance Iran may be forced to develop nuclear weapons if it comes under attack by the United States or its allies, a senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Monday. This statement comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran following a new warning from US President Donald Trump. Ali Larijani, an influential political figure in Iran, stated on national television that while Iran has no current plans to pursue nuclear weapons, external threats could change its stance. 'We are not moving towards (nuclear) weapons, but if you do something wrong in the Iranian nuclear issue, you will force Iran to move towards that because it has to defend itself,' Larijani said. 'Iran does not want to do this, but … (it) will have no choice.' The remarks came in response to Trump's latest warning, in which he told NBC News, 'There will be bombing' if Iran does not comply with US demands regarding its nuclear program. He also suggested imposing 'secondary tariffs' on Tehran, though specific details were not provided. Khamenei swiftly responded, vowing that any military attack on Iran would be met with force. 'If it is carried out, they will definitely receive a strong counterattack,' he said in a speech marking the end of Ramadan. Diplomatic and military warnings In response to Trump's remarks, Iran sent a formal letter to the UN Security Council, condemning what it called 'warmongering provocations.' Iranian UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani warned that Iran 'will respond swiftly and decisively to any act of aggression or attack by the United States or its proxy, the Israeli regime.' Glass Room Iran's foreign ministry also summoned the Swiss charge d'affaires, who represents US interests in Iran, to protest the threats. Meanwhile, senior Iranian military officials issued their own warnings. General Amirali Hajizadeh, a top commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), stated, 'The Americans have at least 10 bases in the region around Iran, and they have 50,000 troops. Someone who is in a glass room shouldn't throw stones at anyone.' AFP
Al Manar
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
Iran Will Produce Atomic Bomb If US Attacks Nuclear Facilities: Larijani
Senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Iranian government, Dr. Ali Larijani, warned on Monday the United States against attacking Iran's nuclear facilities. The Iranian authorities, under the public pressure, may head into producing nuclear weapons in case of any US strike, Larijani said. We have taken the precautionary measures that will prevent any US strike from disrupting the Iranian nuclear program, he added. According to Larijani, the Iranian Armed Forces are completely ready to face any US escalation although it is unlikely. We proposed an indirect negotiation in order to test the US intentions, and the Americans must shun threat rhetoric if they want to sustain the economic interests, he added. Larijani noted that the foreign powers may try to disturb the Iranian home front, but that the Iranians may never reliquish the Islamic Revolution. 'Israel' is incapable of confronting Iran, it is a mere American tool, Larijani maintained, warning the US against the consequence of engaging in the confrontation with the Yemenis. Commander of the IRGC Aerospace Forces Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh indicated that the United States has 10 bases and 50 thousand troops in our vicinity. 'Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.'
