Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman on Wednesday said Washington had no right to criticize Tehran’s missile program, accusing the United States of blocking prospects for nuclear negotiations by insisting on restrictions that Iran calls non-negotiable.
"The United States is in no position to make decisions about Iran’s national defence capabilities. The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to preserve its independence at any cost, stand on its own feet, and firmly resist the excessive demands, aggression, and acts of hostility by foreign powers -- including the United States and the Zionist regime (Israel)."
His remarks echoed those of Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, who earlier this month said that US demands for missile curbs “set a path that negates any talks.”
A sixth round of indirect US-Iran talks was suspended in June after Israel and the United States struck Iranian nuclear facilities, prompting waves of Iranian missile retaliation against Israel.
Iran insists its nuclear program is for civilian use and denies developing missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. It argues that defense capabilities, including long-range missiles, cannot be part of any nuclear negotiations.
The United States has repeatedly said Iran’s ballistic missile program poses a threat to regional and global security and has sought to tie limits on missiles to any future nuclear diplomacy.
A June Congressional Research Service report said Western governments fear Iran’s enrichment activity could be paired with long-range delivery systems, and US lawmakers have mandated sanctions across multiple defense and foreign policy bills targeting missile development.
The State Department has imposed waves of sanctions on Iranian and Chinese entities accused of supplying materials for missile propellants and other components.
Under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act, the US has identified 10 strategic materials -- including alloys, magnesium and specialized aluminum -- as controlled inputs for nuclear and missile programs.
The US has paired these restrictions with measures against Iran’s missile and drone proliferation. In December 2024, it sanctioned an IRGC Aerospace Force commander and two Iran-based companies supporting the production of Shahed-136 drones and ballistic missiles, accusing Tehran of enabling Russia’s war in Ukraine and destabilizing the Middle East.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in Jerusalem earlier this week alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Iran’s missile ambitions already threaten Persian Gulf states and Europe.
“A nuclear Iran governed by a radical Shia cleric that possesses not just nuclear weapons potentially, but the missiles that could deliver those weapons far away is an unacceptable risk,” Rubio said, vowing continued “maximum economic pressure” until Tehran changes course.
In recent weeks, senior Iranian officials have issued increasingly direct warnings. A member of parliament’s National Security Committee, Amir Hayat-Moghaddam, said Iranian missiles can already reach all European countries and could target US cities if launched from naval vessels positioned offshore.
“We can move our ships to within 2,000 km of the US and from there target Washington, New York, and other cities,” he said.
Iran’s defense ministry has also announced that new generations of missiles with “far greater capabilities” than those used during June’s 12-day war with Israel are now ready for deployment.
“If the Zionist enemy embarks on the adventure again, we will undoubtedly use them,” Defense Minister Aziz Nassirzadeh said last month.
Also on Wednesday, Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of staff of Iran’s armed forces, said that Tehran’s defensive preparations had deterred enemies from launching a fresh assault.
Snapback sanctions
Baghaei said Iran would fight until the last moment to prevent the restoration of UN sanctions under the so-called snapback mechanism, triggered last month by Britain, France and Germany.
He denounced the move as unjust and illegal, warning that if sanctions were reimposed, Tehran would end its recent understanding with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed in Cairo earlier in the month.
“Iran has never turned its back on diplomacy. But if hostile action is taken against us, any understanding with the IAEA will be considered terminated,” he said. “It is Iran’s right that if the other side fails to meet its commitments and seeks blackmail, no one can claim that Iran must remain bound by this understanding."
Baghaei added that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will speak with his British, French and German counterparts on Wednesday.
A French diplomatic source told Reuters that the call aims to discuss the impending reimposition of sanctions and to reaffirm conditions they had set to Tehran that would enable that decision to be delayed.
Restrictions on Iranian delegation
The spokesman criticized what he called “unprecedented” US restrictions on visas for Iranian officials attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, saying such measures violated America’s obligations as host country of UN headquarters.
“Some visas have been issued, but the process has been slow and irregular. Such behavior questions the credibility of the United States,” Baghaei said.
Relations with Syria
On Syria, Baghaei said Iran was not rushing to restore full diplomatic relations but maintained its friendship with the Syrian people. He condemned Israeli air strikes inside Syria and stressed Tehran’s support for the country’s territorial integrity.
“The severance of relations between two Muslim countries is not eternal. Whenever it is determined that renewed ties with Iran are in the interest of the Syrian people, reciprocal readiness will exist,” he said.
Baghaei accused Israel of threatening regional and global security through military actions in multiple countries and said Iran was working with regional neighbors to build “collective security without reliance on outside powers.”
Baghaei added that Tehran values regional efforts to ease dialogue with Washington but stressed that no state has been designated as a formal mediator.
He added that Iran would continue to engage in indirect talks based on its own national interests while rejecting speculation that outside powers were steering the process.
He added that European states should respond positively to Iran’s cooperative stance with the IAEA and resist US and Israeli pressure. “Any escalation would benefit no one,” he warned.
“Number one, Hamas is a terrorist organization. We recognize Israel is going to go after every single one of those terrorists," said senator Mike Rounds.
"But at the same time, Qatar is a different country, and this took place in a different country that was our ally, and it is a country which was allowing for a peace process to try to proceed."
The senator stressed that while he backs what he called Israel’s right to target Hamas, he was concerned by the assassination attempts on the soil of a US ally at the heart of ongoing mediation.
“I think the President of the United States is correct in addressing his concern with Israel’s decision to literally attack individuals, even if they were terrorists, in a foreign country. And I think this is going to cause problems for any peace process to move forward in a timely fashion now.”
The White House has said it was notified of the strike only after missiles were already in the air, giving President Trump no chance to intervene. However, Axios, citing unnamed Israeli officials, reported that Washington had earlier notice and had informed the president.
On September 9, 2025, Israel carried out an airstrike in Doha, Qatar, targeting a meeting of Hamas political officials. At least five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer were killed.
The attack was the first known Israeli strike on Qatari soil — a state that has long hosted Hamas’ political leadership while also mediating ceasefire and hostage talks.
Israel defended the strike as a necessary step to eliminate Hamas leaders it accused of orchestrating attacks against Israeli civilians. For Qatar, however, the attack represented a violation of sovereignty and a blow to its credibility as a mediator.
The fallout was immediate and sharp. Qatar denounced the strike as “cowardly and treacherous,” vowing to raise the issue at the United Nations. The United Arab Emirates, despite its normalized ties with Israel, summoned Israel’s deputy ambassador and described the attack as “blatant and cowardly.”
Turkey accused Israel of adopting “state terrorism as policy.” The UN Security Council, with US support, condemned the operation as a violation of international law and a threat to peace talks.
Iran seized on Israel’s strike in Doha to portray itself as the defender of Arab sovereignty and Palestinian resistance, with President Masoud Pezeshkian and other officials condemning the attack as illegal and anti-peace. Officials in Tehran argue that this could push regional states closer to Iran.
Leaders of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation convened an emergency summit in Doha on Monday, where a draft communiqué warned Israeli operations on foreign soil risk unraveling normalization efforts across the Arab world.
Rounds’ remarks underscore Washington’s delicate balancing act — supporting what it calls Israel’s right to defend itself while also defending the sovereignty of a Persian Gulf ally critical to US diplomacy.
In Larijani's meeting with the Crown Prince, discussions focused on strategic regional issues and the situation in Islamic countries, with both sides exchanging views on the future of the region.
The meetings come amid heightened regional tensions following an Israeli airstrike in Doha on September 9 which targeted Hamas leaders. Qatar and other Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, condemned the attack as a violation of sovereignty.
Larijani and Bin Salman also explored ways to expand economic cooperation between Tehran and Riyadh, including resolving obstacles facing traders and examining opportunities for joint investments, Iranian official media reported.
Larijani later held a meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Khalid Bin Salman, during which both sides discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation in the defense field as part of broader efforts to consolidate ties between the two countries, according to IRGC-affiliated Fars News.
Following talks with Larijani, Khalid bin Salman said he had reviewed bilateral relations and regional developments.
“In my meeting, we discussed Saudi-Iranian relations and addressed a number of issues of mutual interest, as well as regional developments and efforts to achieve security and stability,” the Kingdom's defense minister said.
Khalid bin Salman in April paid a rare visit to Tehran, where he met with Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. It was the first time Khamenei had received a Saudi official since 2006.
