Iran Guards Declare Military Capabilities as ‘Red Lines’ in Talks

TEHRAN: On Tuesday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran declared that the nation’s military capabilities are non-negotiable ahead of the upcoming second round of discussions with the United States regarding its nuclear program.

“The national security, defense, and military strength of the Islamic Republic of Iran are considered red lines that can never be up for discussion or negotiation,” stated Ali Mohammad Naini, a spokesperson for the IRGC, as reported by state broadcaster IRIB.

Iran and the United States are set to meet again in Muscat on Saturday, just one week after high-ranking officials convened in Oman’s capital for their most significant talks since the 2015 nuclear deal fell apart.

US President Donald Trump, who removed the United States from the 2015 agreement during his first term, has reactivated a campaign of “maximum pressure” against Iran since taking office again in January.

In March, Trump sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, urging nuclear negotiations and cautioning that military action might occur if Tehran did not comply.

On Monday, Trump spoke to reporters about Iran, claiming, “I will solve that problem” and asserting that it is “almost an easy one.”

The US president also issued threats to target Iran’s nuclear facilities, labeling Iranian leaders as “radicals” who should not have access to nuclear weapons.

Iran consistently rejects any allegations of pursuing an atomic bomb, claiming that its nuclear program is aimed solely at peaceful uses, particularly for energy production.

On Sunday night, Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, stated that the country’s regional influence and its missile capabilities are among the “red lines” during negotiations.

On April 12, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Oman for “indirect” discussions, as reported by Iranian officials and media outlets.

These meetings mark the highest-level nuclear negotiations between Iran and the US since the collapse of the 2015 agreement, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which provided Iran with relief from international sanctions in exchange for limitations on its nuclear activities.

Both Tehran and Washington, long-time adversaries that have lacked diplomatic relations since shortly after Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979, characterized the recent discussions as “constructive.”

Araghchi is expected to travel to Moscow later this week for discussions with Russia, a close ally of Iran and a signatory of the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Moscow has supported the Iran-US talks, emphasizing the need for a diplomatic resolution and warning that any military conflict could lead to a “global catastrophe.”