Amid rising tensions ahead of next round of nuclear negotiations, Iran’s Defence Minister on Wednesday warned that Tehran would strike US military bases in the region if talks collapse and conflict erupts. “Some officials on the other side threaten conflict if negotiations don’t come to fruition. If a conflict is imposed on us… all US bases are within our reach, and we will boldly target them in host countries,” Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said during a weekly press briefing. His comments come days ahead of the anticipated sixth round of US-Iran nuclear talks, with Washington saying they are scheduled for Thursday, while Tehran maintains they will take place on Sunday in Oman. Iran is expected to present a counter-proposal to the latest US offer, which it had previously rejected. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with military action unless it agrees to a new nuclear deal. In a podcast interview released Wednesday, Trump said he was becoming less confident that Tehran would agree to halt uranium enrichment. “I don’t know,” Trump told the Pod Force One podcast when asked if Iran might agree to shut down its nuclear programme. “I did think so, and I’m getting more and more — less confident about it.” He also accused Iran of stalling negotiations. “I’m less confident now than I would have been a couple of months ago. Something happened to them, but I am much less confident of a deal being made,” he said. Earlier, speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said he had also discussed Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and called talks with Iranian officials “tough.” “But it would be nicer to do it without warfare, without people dying, it’s so much nicer to do it. But I don’t think I see the same level of enthusiasm for them to make a deal,” Trump added. He reiterated that the US would not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, with or without an agreement. Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is purely for civilian use, such as power generation and scientific research. It has denied any plans to develop nuclear weapons. “As we resume talks on Sunday, it is clear that an agreement that can ensure the continued peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme is within reach — and could be achieved rapidly,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X. President Trump entered office saying that Iran should not have nuclear weapons. That is actually in line with our own doctrine and could become the main foundation for a deal. As we resume talks on Sunday, it is clear that an agreement that can ensure the continued peaceful… — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 11, 2025 A major sticking point in the negotiations has been Iran’s ballistic missile programme. Nasirzadeh confirmed that Tehran recently tested a missile with a two-ton warhead and insisted that the country would not accept restrictions on its missile capabilities. In February, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had called for further development of Iran’s military, including its missile arsenal. Trump withdrew the United States from the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers during his first term in office, saying the deal was too weak. That agreement had imposed limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for relief from international sanctions.
