In Tehran, a senior Iranian parliamentarian, Mohammad-Reza Ahmadi Sangari, reiterated Iran’s refusal to engage in negotiations with the United States this week, citing longstanding Iranian suspicion of American intentions and asserting the government’s commitment to maintaining its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Addressing the Majlis, Ahmadi Sangari invoked the Islamic Republic’s flagship slogan ‘Death to America’ as a principle underpinning national policy and foreign relations.
The declarations come amid persistent international concerns about Iran’s steadily advancing nuclear enrichment and missile capabilities, which Western officials view as potential pathways toward weaponization. Ahmadi Sangari specifically referenced renewed U.S. demands—linked to statements by former President Donald Trump—that Iran dismantle its uranium enrichment facilities. The lawmaker responded by declaring such overtures incompatible with Iranian interests, emphasizing that ‘Iran must safeguard its nuclear achievements and missile capabilities’ regardless of external pressure.
Drawing parallels to Libya’s 2003 disarmament and subsequent collapse, Sangari said Iran would not become a ‘Libya 2,’ suggesting that historical examples reinforce Tehran’s skepticism about Western security guarantees. Further escalating his rhetoric, he described talks with the United States as futile, labeling Americans ‘wolves and murderers of thousands of women and children.’
Such pronouncements align with the longstanding posture of Iran’s leadership, where direct engagement with Western powers is equated with vulnerability. The regime’s aversion to compromise remains strong even as Iran faces increasing economic strain from international sanctions and isolation, especially since the United States’ May 2018 exit from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the resumption of maximum pressure policies.
Analysts note that behind the rhetoric lies a strategic rationale. Iranian officials view missile and nuclear advancements as essential deterrents, both for regime stability and for supporting Iran’s broader regional strategy. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated by the United States and other nations as a terrorist organization, plays a critical role in operationalizing Iran’s military-industrial ambitions and exporting its revolutionary ideology across the Middle East.
A central pillar of Iran’s strategy is its sponsorship of proxy groups—most notably, Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and various militias in Syria and Iraq. These groups, collectively described by Tehran as part of the ‘Axis of Resistance,’ are responsible for repeated acts of violence and terror targeting civilians and strategic interests across the region. Israeli defense authorities consistently warn that Iranian backing for such organizations remains the foremost strategic threat to Israel’s security and regional stability.
The October 7, 2023 massacre, perpetrated by Hamas terrorists with Iranian support, served as a grim reminder of these dangers. More than 1,200 Israelis, including women and children, were murdered in what Israeli and international authorities have described as the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust. Acts of execution, mass abduction, sexual violence, and mutilation were extensively documented, underscoring the existential threat posed by Iran-backed terror proxies.
In response, Israel has reiterated its right to self-defense and its determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir maintain that preemptive action remains an option should diplomatic efforts fail. This stance is reinforced by Israel’s historical experience and a consensus that national security cannot hinge on unreliable foreign assurances.
Diplomatic efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear activities have stalled. Western governments, including both Democratic and Republican administrations in Washington, continue to impose sanctions and consider other measures to prevent Iran’s emergence as a nuclear state. However, Iranian officials, emboldened by a network of alliances with authoritarian regimes in Russia and China, project resilience in the face of external pressure.
The standoff poses a critical test for international resolve. Iranian leaders’ rhetoric, as articulated by Ahmadi Sangari, leaves little room for negotiation or de-escalation under current conditions. Western and Israeli officials warn that a nuclear-armed Iran would further destabilize an already volatile region and embolden terrorist organizations dedicated to Israel’s destruction and the proliferation of violence against Western interests.
Looking ahead, Israeli policymakers call for increased global coordination to intensify diplomatic, economic, and—if necessary—military measures to block Iran’s path to nuclear weapons. With Iran’s leadership remaining steadfast in its antagonism toward the United States and its allies, the coming months will likely reveal whether the international community can unite for enduring security or whether the proliferation crisis will deepen.
As regional tensions persist, Ahmadi Sangari’s speech stands as a vivid manifestation of the regime’s worldview: rejection of compromise, reliance on military power, and persistent incitement of confrontation with Israel and the West. Global leaders face mounting pressure to devise strategies that counter this aggression and protect regional stability before the crisis escalates further.
