Chicago – April 30, 2026
Iran’s supreme leader has warned that Iran will protect its nuclear and missile capabilities as vital national assets, signaling little room for compromise in talks with the United States. Speaking on Persian Gulf Day, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Iranians would defend those capabilities as they would the country’s land, sea, and airspace.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s supreme leader said Thursday the Islamic Republic will safeguard its “nuclear and missile capabilities,” drawing a hard line as U.S. President Donald Trump pushes for a broader agreement to stabilize the fragile ceasefire in the region.
Khamenei’s remarks suggested that Iran’s ballistic missile program and nuclear file are not negotiable, even as Washington seeks to limit Tehran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon.
His comments also came amid heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz and pressure on Iran’s oil exports, underscoring the wider geopolitical stakes behind the standoff.
