Iran Warns U.S. Against Military Strikes As Fears Grow of Tehran’s Nuclear Ambitions

In response to reports that the United States and Great Britain were considering a military strike against Iran due to suspicions it is developing nuclear weapons, Tehran’s foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi said his country is always ready for war and warned the western power the against entering a collision course.”

Salehi made the comments to a Turkish newspaper, adding that We can defend our country.

During a visit to Libya, Salehi told reporters: The U.S. has unfortunately lost wisdom and prudence in dealing with international issues. [The U.S.] depends only on power. They have lost rationality; we are prepared for the worst but we hope they will think twice before they put themselves on a collision course with Iran.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper of the UK reported on Thursday that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had confirmed what many in the west already assumed – that the Iranians are building nuclear weapons as part of their overall atomic power program.

The IAEA will release a report on its findings later this month – an event that will likely lead the United Nations to inflicting more sanctions on Iran – including possibly on Iran’s central bank.

Mark Fitzpatrick, director of the non-proliferation and disarmament program at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told the Telegraph: This [IAEA] report will be a watershed in that it will confirm suspicions about Iranian work on weapons development. I don't expect that this information will be a smoking gun in terms of developing nuclear weapons, but it will certainly confirm Iran's interest in having that option ready.

Earlier this year, a UN panel said that Iran was cooperating with North Korea, which already has the capability to construct nuclear weapons. Some western observers believe China may also be involved.

Meanwhile, the UK government has asserted all options remained on the table regarding making a pre-emptive strike against Iran, as some in the Israel cabinet have been agitating for.

The British Government believes that a dual-track strategy of pressure and engagement is the best approach to address the threat from Iran's nuclear program and avoid regional conflicts, a spokeswoman for Prime Minister David Cameron said in a statement.

We want a negotiated solution but all options should be kept on the table.