Tehran says its defense capabilities not negotiable amid increased US pressure

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Iran’s defense capabilities are not negotiable, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday in remarks made previously but which now come amid increased pressure from the US government over Tehran’s ballistic-missile program.

Ties between Iran and the United States have deteriorated under US President Donald Trump and suffered another deep blow two weeks ago when he decided not to certify that Tehran is complying with the 2015 nuclear pact and warning he might ultimately terminate it.

Iran has reacted defiantly, dismissing Trump’s demands for the pact to be toughened up. Last week, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the most powerful military force in the country, said its ballistic missile program would accelerate despite US and European Union pressure to suspend it.

“The defense capabilities and strength of the country are not negotiable or up for haggling,” Khamenei was cited as saying at a ceremony at the Imam Ali army officer’s academy in Tehran, according to state media.

The ramping up of rhetoric on both sides has raised the specter of a military confrontation between the two countries. In recent months, small boats from the Revolutionary Guards navy have swarmed close to American warships in the Gulf, prompting the US Navy to fire flares and warning shots.

Under the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers, the Islamic Republic agreed to curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of a number of sanctions.

The US Senate is considering legislation that could lead to Washington restoring sanctions on Iran should it test a ballistic missile able to carry a warhead or bar nuclear inspectors from any sites. In response, Khamenei said last week that Tehran would stick to the nuclear accord with world powers as long as the other signatories respected it, but would “shred” the deal if Washington pulled out.