Tehran: A senior adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has stated that while Iran does not intend to build nuclear weapons, any military strike by the United States or Israel, based on the unfounded claim that it is pursuing such weapons, would drive the nation to develop atomic bombs for self-defense.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Ali Larijani made these remarks during a televised interview on Monday. He emphasized that an attack under the guise of nuclear pretext would leave Iran with no choice but to consider nuclear armament. This statement came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's comments made on Sunday, where he indicated his readiness to launch military strikes against Iran if a new nuclear agreement was not reached. Trump, in his NBC News interview, stated, "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing."

Ayatollah Khamenei has issued a religious decree, or fatwa, prohibiting the development, possession, and use of nuclear weapons. Larijani highlighted in the interview that this religious edict carries more weight than a simple political directive. However, he warned that military aggression against Iran would have significant repercussions, as public sentiment might force the government to reconsider its stance on nuclear armament.

The situation is further complicated by diplomatic exchanges. Trump dispatched a letter to Iran through a UAE emissary on March 12, advocating for negotiations to forge a new agreement aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. This comes despite Trump's withdrawal from a multinational nuclear deal with Iran in 2018 and his February 4 presidential memorandum reinstating the 'maximum pressure' policy against the Islamic Republic.

In response, Iran, while communicating through Oman, has firmly rejected direct talks with the United States, citing the continuation of the 'maximum pressure' campaign and ongoing military threats as significant barriers to any potential negotiations.