At a New Year’s gathering held at the Iranian General Staff headquarters, Iran’s top military officer, Major General Mohammad Bagheri, delivered a speech revealing Tehran’s official response to a message sent by U.S. President Donald Trump. The content of Iran’s reply—and the political choreography behind it—sheds light on just how cornered the regime feels in the face of mounting American pressure.
According to Bagheri, the response was dictated personally by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei—a rare and revealing move. The letter was transmitted to Washington by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The mere fact that Khamenei himself penned the response speaks volumes: Tehran is under severe stress. Normally, the Supreme Leader avoids engaging directly with figures like Trump, especially after the elimination of Qassem Soleimani, which Khamenei has publicly deemed an unforgivable act of “murder.”
The content of the letter claims that Iran “seeks peace and does not want a regional conflict,” but warns that any attack on Iranian soil will be met with a “crushing response.” Iran also insisted it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, reiterating the well-worn claim that its nuclear program is purely for civilian purposes—such as electricity generation and medical needs. Yet this narrative has long been discredited by international intelligence, which has repeatedly exposed Iran’s secret enrichment sites and weapons-related experiments.
Interestingly, the letter also opened the door for negotiations—but only indirectly. Iran ruled out direct talks with the United States, but expressed openness to indirect dialogue, signaling a potential diplomatic path forward. However, this gesture is overshadowed by simultaneous threats.
Just hours before Bagheri’s remarks, Reuters cited a senior Iranian official who confirmed that Iran had issued direct warnings to six neighboring countries: Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, and Bahrain. These nations were warned that if they allow U.S. forces to launch attacks from their territory or permit access to their airspace for military operations, they themselves could become targets of Iranian retaliation. In other words, Iran is attempting to deter regional cooperation with the United States by threatening to turn the region into a battlefield.
Meanwhile, senior Iranian military commanders are ramping up their own readiness. Yesterday, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh and Iranian Air Defense Chief Saber Zahaqi-Fard visited air defense installations near Bandar Abbas in southeastern Iran—a region that conveniently aligns with the most likely flight paths U.S. warplanes would use in the event of a strike.
According to Iranian state media, the visit was aimed at evaluating the operational readiness of local air defense units. Zahaqi-Fard declared that Iran’s air defense system is at the highest level of preparedness to respond to any threat. The message was unmistakable: Tehran is not only preparing for conflict—it expects it.
These events suggest that tensions between the U.S. and Iran are reaching a boiling point. While Iran publicly signals restraint and diplomacy, its actions and threats paint a picture of a regime on edge, desperate to deter an American offensive while shoring up its defenses.
The contradiction at the heart of Tehran’s message is glaring. On one hand, it claims to desire peace and rejects nuclear weapons. On the other, it threatens neighboring countries and conducts high-profile military inspections in strategic regions. If Iran truly sought peace, it would dismantle its terror infrastructure, halt its nuclear program, and engage in honest diplomacy—not dictate threats while hiding behind air defenses and proxy armies.
As tensions escalate, one truth remains clear: Iran’s regime fears accountability. And the fact that Khamenei himself had to respond to President Trump only proves how close that accountability may be.
