TEHERAN – A senior advisor to iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Shamkhani, has stated that Tehran views the United States and israel as a unified military force. This declaration carries the important implication that any attack by the US would be met wiht a retaliatory strike against Israel.
“If the US attacks, Israel will definitely join in,” Shamkhani asserted in a statement to Al Mayadeen, signaling Iran’s perception of a coordinated military alignment between the two nations.This statement underscores the heightened tensions in the region and the potential for escalation.
Alongside this warning, Shamkhani indicated Iran’s position on its nuclear programme. While maintaining that Iran will not dismantle its stored nuclear material, he expressed a willingness to consider reducing uranium enrichment levels from the current 60% to 20%. This potential concession could be a key point of discussion in upcoming negotiations.
Reports from Iranian media suggest that negotiations between iran and the United States may commence in the coming days. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff are anticipated to lead the discussions, aiming to de-escalate tensions and potentially reach a diplomatic resolution.
These developments follow earlier statements by former US President Donald Trump in January, who announced the deployment of a “huge fleet” towards Iran. Trump expressed hope that this presentation of force would compel Iran to engage in negotiations and agree to a comprehensive deal aimed at eliminating its nuclear weapons program.