Iranian Guard chief says Tehran will keep pursuing nuclear capability while US and Israel retain theirs

Iran’s top Revolutionary Guard commander, Ahmad Vahidi, told reporters on Wednesday that Tehran will keep working on nuclear weapons while the United States and Israel maintain their own arsenals, adding that Iran would disarm only if those states did so.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded at a ceremony honoring the grandparents of Theodor Herzl, saying Israel remains determined to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, with or without a diplomatic agreement. He also praised President Donald Trump as a key ally in countering Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The remarks came amid ongoing talks in Washington that aim to address the Strait of Hormuz dispute before moving to Iran’s nuclear program. US President Donald Trump told Fox News that military force remains an option if Iran backs out of the negotiations, and warned that Tehran would face a “hard hit” if it pursues a nuclear weapon.

Analysts from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Arms Control Association warned that Iran may be using the Hormuz talks to extract concessions, such as sanctions relief and control over maritime traffic, while delaying substantive nuclear restrictions. They cautioned that postponing nuclear issues could allow Iran to retain enriched-uranium stockpiles and key expertise, making a future agreement more difficult.

Experts also noted that Iran has proposed a deal with Oman that could give it some authority over ships entering the Persian Gulf, a point the United States opposes. They urged that any concessions on Hormuz or sanctions be linked to verifiable steps on the nuclear file, and recommended restoring International Atomic Energy Agency inspections before detailed nuclear negotiations resume.