Iran Ready for Decisive War, Threatens US Interests, Hints at Nuclear Doctrine Shift

Iran is prepared for a "decisive war" with the United States and has presented a set of conditions for ending hostilities, according to Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader. Velayati stated in an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday that U.S. President Donald Trump's calculations regarding Iran were mistaken and claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initiated the conflict. Velayati asserted that Washington's best interest lies in accepting Iran's terms to end the war, dismissing Trump's threats as ineffective. He added that Iran is more prepared than ever to counter U.S. airstrikes, knowing the American military's weaknesses.

Iran is reportedly communicating with Qatar and Pakistan as mediators, with Doha having conveyed Iran's conditions to Washington. Tehran awaits a response from Trump. Iran's proposed conditions include ending the war on "all fronts," which typically encompasses confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and lifting the U.S. naval blockade hindering Iranian oil exports. These demands follow similar conditions presented last month for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has been attempting to disrupt through attacks on oil tankers while the U.S. Navy conducts navigation protection operations.

Velayati's statements followed an interview where Trump indicated he was again facing a decision on whether to "eliminate" Iran. The Iranian official warned that any U.S. attack would be met with a stronger response, including strikes on American bases and interests in the region. He also claimed Iran recently tested an anti-ship missile near a U.S. aircraft carrier, emphasizing Iran's seriousness about its defense.

Regarding Iran's nuclear program, Velayati suggested that U.S. and Israeli actions could justify Iran's withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, though a final decision has not been made and depends on Washington's behavior. While reaffirming Iran's commitment to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's fatwa prohibiting nuclear weapons development, Velayati cryptically stated, "We have not changed our nuclear doctrine, although we do not know what the future holds."