“Trump’s Threats and Iran’s Missile Power: Escalating Tensions”

The relationship between the United States and Iran has always been tense, but recent statements and military preparations have further escalated the situation, intensifying the conflict. Threats and a hard-line stance from former U.S. President Donald Trump, coupled with the strong reaction from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have heightened unease in the region. It appears that the arms manufacturers in the U.S. have strengthened their grip on the White House to accelerate their production, increasing the risk of catastrophic destruction in the region at any moment.

According to CBS News, in an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Donald Trump stated, “If they (Iranian authorities) do not make a deal, then there will be bombing—bombing like they have never seen before.” The Iranian news agency IRNA reported that the U.S. President had sent a letter to Iran on March 12, which was delivered to Tehran by a diplomat from the United Arab Emirates. This statement reflects the rigid U.S. policy towards Iran, further straining relations between the two nations. The proposal was sent to the Iranian leadership in early March via a letter, giving Tehran two months to respond. Trump had previously told Fox News that he had invited Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for negotiations through a formal letter.

In response to Trump’s threat of bombing, Ayatollah Khamenei stated unequivocally that the United States and Israel have always been hostile towards Iran. He added that while the threats of attack seemed unlikely, any act of aggression or mischief from the U.S. or Israel would be met with a strong response. Iran has consistently focused on strengthening its defence systems and has signalled that any attack would provoke severe retaliation. Ayatollah Khamenei also dismissed Trump’s proposal regarding Iran’s nuclear programme, calling it “unjust” and rejecting it outright.

Trump also hinted at further economic sanctions on Iran, stating that if Iran did not agree to a deal, additional tariffs would be imposed, as was done during his previous administration. However, Iran’s leadership maintains that Western countries aim to weaken Iran through economic sanctions, yet Tehran refuses to bow to pressure. These sanctions have already had a significant impact on Iran’s economy, but the country has not altered its fundamental policies in response.

Iranian officials argue that the protests in 2019, as well as those in 2022 and 2023—such as the Mahsa Amini demonstrations and fuel price protests—were orchestrated as part of a Western conspiracy. They claim that these movements were designed to destabilise Iran. The Iranian government insists that the United States and its allies are actively attempting to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs.

According to Iran’s state media agency, IRNA, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed that Iran has informed the United States of its willingness to engage in indirect negotiations. He stated that Iran has never refused to negotiate, but a lack of trust stemming from previous broken commitments by the U.S. has been a major obstacle. Speaking in a cabinet meeting, the Iranian president said, “We have made it clear that direct negotiations are off the table, but indirect communication remains an option. The continuation of negotiations will depend on the behaviour of the United States.”

The Iranian President also informed his cabinet that Iran had responded to the U.S. letter via Oman, explicitly rejecting direct negotiations. According to IRNA, the letter was delivered to Tehran by a diplomat from the UAE. However, officials from both Iran and the U.S. have remained tight-lipped about the details of the letter. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that the exchange of letters between Iran and the U.S. would remain confidential as long as it served the national interest.

The ministry’s statement further clarified that “keeping the details of international negotiations, correspondence, and diplomatic engagements undisclosed is a professional practice aligned with national interests.” Previously, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had mentioned that the U.S. letter contained various elements, including threats. He asserted that Iran would not tolerate a threatening tone towards its people. Araghchi added that while the letter appeared to be an attempt at initiating a diplomatic process, Ayatollah Khamenei had made it clear that “direct negotiations with the U.S. would not be a wise move, given America’s unreliable past conduct.” Despite this, global political analysts suggest that behind-the-scenes manoeuvres are already in motion to stage negotiations in the near future.

As of now, the complete contents of Trump’s letter to Iran have not been disclosed. However, analysts speculate that it likely contains either an offer for a deal or veiled threats. Various interpretations of the letter continue to emerge. As Henry Kissinger once remarked, “To fully understand an issue, one must have access to all the facts, which are currently unavailable.” This principle remains applicable to the present U.S.-Iran relationship.

Iran’s missile programme and its underground “missile cities” have garnered global attention. Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Amir Ali Hajizadeh, has claimed that Iran possesses so many underground missile bases and ‘rocket cities’ that even if one were unveiled each week, the process would not be completed within two years. These subterranean missile bases are considered a key part of Iran’s unconventional military strategy and are integral to its defensive framework, designed to shield against potential attacks. In June 2017, Hajizadeh announced the existence of three secret underground missile factories in Iran. According to IRGC commanders, these missile cities are not merely storage facilities but also sites for missile production.

Are American military bases in the region under threat? Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned that “accepting the enemy’s demands under duress in negotiations is akin to waging war.” He stated that if the United States were to act on its military threats against Iran, not only would American bases in the region be at risk, but they would also be Iran’s primary targets. Iran’s defence strategy includes long-range ballistic missiles capable of striking American installations, thereby jeopardising US military bases in the region.

Furthermore, Ghalibaf asserted that “Donald Trump’s letter did not mention the lifting of sanctions.” He fully endorsed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s stance, affirming that “Iran cannot be coerced into negotiations under pressure, and talks held under the shadow of threats can never be successful.”

Meanwhile, following Iran’s full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and its inclusion in BRICS, the Iranian government has strengthened its ties with China and Russia, signing multiple security, political, and economic agreements.

In February this year, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Tehran. During a subsequent press conference, Araghchi announced that “Iran will not engage in direct negotiations with the United States regarding its nuclear issue and will move forward with Russia and China instead.”

Conversely, Russia has been engaged in direct negotiations with the United States in recent days. Representatives from both nations met in Riyadh, where discussions also touched upon Iran.

On 12 January 2025, Russia and Iran signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement before Donald Trump had even taken office as US President. According to this document, both nations have pledged to “strengthen military, political, trade, and economic relations.”
In September 2024, Jens Stoltenberg had informed the global media that Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea were more unified and coordinated than ever before. NATO’s current Secretary General, Mark Rutte, has similarly warned that “North Korea and Iran, in collaboration with Russia and China, are attempting to weaken North America and Europe.”

Admiral Tony Radakin, Chief of the British Armed Forces, has suggested that Israel has effectively crippled Iran’s ballistic missile production capabilities for a year. However, verifying this claim remains difficult, as no concrete evidence has yet emerged. Given Iran’s ongoing military preparations, such assertions cannot be disregarded. Iranian military experts insist that their missile production capabilities remain intact and that, when the time comes, Iran will shock the world.

Meanwhile, confirmation has emerged that President Donald Trump wrote a letter to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, seeking negotiations. Although Khamenei refrained from directly mentioning Trump, he expressed profound distrust towards the US and sharply criticised European powers. During discussions with government officials, Khamenei denounced “stubborn governments” pushing for negotiations and labelled European nations as “shameless and blind” for criticising Tehran over its non-compliance with the nuclear agreement.

Just one day after Iran rejected the US offer, reports surfaced of new joint military exercises between Iran, Russia, and China. Notably, a press conference held at the White House two days prior primarily focused on America’s economic situation. During this briefing, President Trump remarked, “You will soon hear news about Iran.”

Following these statements, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that these military drills were set to commence on Monday in the Gulf of Oman, near Chabahar Port in southeastern Iran. Concurrently, China is preparing to conduct joint naval exercises with Iran and Russia. The Chinese Ministry of Defence has issued an official statement confirming that these drills will take place in waters near Iran. Observers from half a dozen nations, including Azerbaijan, South Africa, Pakistan, Qatar, Iraq, and the UAE, are expected to participate. According to AFP, the primary aim of these exercises is to enhance mutual cooperation.

In recent years, the armed forces of these three nations have routinely conducted such war games. These latest drills will be held in the northern Indian Ocean, with the objective of strengthening regional security and fostering multilateral cooperation among the participating countries.

This is not the first time that Iran, Russia, and China have conducted joint naval exercises. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Iran and China have been accused of providing military assistance to Russia. These countries held joint military exercises in March 2024, and also about two years ago in March 2023. Both times, these exercises took place near the Gulf of Oman in the northern part of the Indian Ocean. The Iranian Navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) participated in military drills named “Marine Security Belt 2023 and 2024.” These three nations have previously conducted similar military drills, often choosing locations near the Gulf of Oman, strategically located between the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway through which a significant portion of the world’s oil is transported. Nearly one-fifth of the world’s total oil passes through this route.

Immediately after these military drills, the White House reacted, and National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes essentially issued a warning to Iran. According to Reuters, he stated, “We hope that Iran will keep its people and interests above terrorism.” He reiterated Trump’s statement, saying, “If military action is needed, it would be very bad.” Earlier, Trump had stated that there were two ways to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons:

“military action or a deal.” After taking office in January this year, President Donald Trump had made it clear that his stance on Iran would be one of “maximum pressure.” He signed a national security memorandum that emphasized preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles, while also focusing on dismantling its “terrorist networks.”

In the February 2025 document, Iran’s aggressive nuclear program is considered a threat to the United States. Since President Trump signed this document, Iran’s position regarding direct negotiations with the US has become even more rigid. It’s not just about the United States; Israel, a country closely allied with the US, also claims that Iran is now a target. Recently, Israel appointed a new chief of staff, Eyal Zimri, who after assuming office stated that 2025 will be a year of war. He said that his focus would be on Gaza and Iran, while also stating, “We will vigorously protect all we have achieved so far.”

After the looming clouds of war in the region, various speculations and hopes have emerged. Political analysts now cite a famous quote from former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger: “To be fully aware of a matter, either you need to know everything, or you know nothing at all.” This statement can be interpreted in the context of the current situation between Iran and the US, where the details of their exchanges of letters have not been made public, but several interpretations are being made.

Donald Trump insists that he seeks an agreement through negotiations, and if that fails, he will consider other options, which could have undesirable consequences. In response, Iran has emphasized two main points: it does not seek direct negotiations in the current situation, and if threatened, it will retaliate. However, after reviewing the statements from officials of both countries, it is evident that they want to keep the door open for negotiations and appear ready for indirect talks.
Recently, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham also expressed hope that President Trump would resolve the issue through “diplomacy.” Iran is currently in talks with three European countries in Geneva, and the Iranian government has stated that there has been progress on the technical aspects of these discussions. However, the details of these talks have not been made public, and diplomats from the UK, France, Germany, and other European nations have indicated that they have no knowledge of the specifics of these negotiations.

In such a situation, where facts are being replaced by conjectures, interpretations, and claims from unknown sources, tensions between the US and Iran continue to rise. Diplomatic complications, military threats, and economic sanctions are deepening the conflict. Iran’s missile capabilities and the US military plans could lead to new conflicts in the region. On one side, there are American sanctions and military threats; on the other, Iran is enhancing its military capabilities. If diplomatic negotiations do not resume, the region may see more conflicts and tensions, and there is always the risk of this escalating into a global war.

In the present circumstances, it seems that all parties, particularly Iran, want to focus on negotiations and show no interest in reacting to public opinion or media. However, Israel’s increasing aggression in the region remains a serious threat to global peace.