US defense chief says military option on the table if Iran talks fail

The talks took place on Saturday and were led by Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

While both sides described the exchange as “positive and constructive,” Iranians interviewed anonymously by Iran International or in the form of messages to its submission service questioned the impact of the discussions on their lives.

“This negotiation won’t lower prices or fix the economy,” said one citizen in a video message showing a small grocery purchase costing over ten million rials (around $11).

“Even if billions are unfrozen, not a single rial will reach the people. It’s all in the name of the people, but for the benefit of the regime,” another added.

Iran's economy has been in crisis since 2018, when Trump exited the JCPOA nuclear deal and imposed heavy sanctions on Iran. Tens of millions subsist at poverty level, with workers making around $120 a month.

Some pointed to systemic mismanagement and repression as the root of Iran’s crises, not international sanctions. They criticized the West for engaging diplomatically with a government they believe is at its weakest.

“Why negotiate when the regime is vulnerable?” asked one voice message. “Why not support the Iranian people and end this nightmare?”

The move toward talks, despite Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s longstanding opposition to negotiations with what he has repeatedly called a untrustworthy United States, was seen by some as an act of desperation.

“Khamenei once said Qasem Soleimani’s shoes were worth more than Trump,” said a citizen to Iran International, referring to the IRGC commander killed in 2020 on Trump's orders. “Now he negotiates with the man he called Soleimani’s killer.”

As Trump continues to press for a new deal—recently warning that Iran must comply or face consequences—many Iranians say the clerical rulers have caved to external pressure for the sake of survival.

“They refused American vaccines during COVID, but now they’re ready to shake Trump’s hand to stay in power,” said another.

Several messages also highlighted a growing sense that the only path to change may be confrontation. “We’re even ready for war,” said one citizen. “If that’s what it takes to end this regime.”

Images circulating online captured public sentiment, including a Tehran banner reading: “With or without a deal, this executioner republic will fall by the will of the Iranian people.”

A senior commander in Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday that the United States has been compelled to engage in negotiations due to the Islamic Republic's deterrent military capabilities.

Speaking on the sidelines of a commemoration for the death anniversary of those killed in Israeli strike on Iran's consulate in Damascus, Brigadier General Iraj Masjedi, the deputy coordinator of the IRGC's Quds Force, said that Iran possesses a level of deterrence that makes its enemies aware of the "crushing and decisive response" they would face to any threats.

Masjedi added that the US's current approach of coming to the negotiating table is a direct result of Iran's power.

He suggested that the best way forward would be for both sides to engage in mutual interaction and respect to resolve their issues.

The commander said that "Mr. Trump and the Zionists realized they could not speak to the Islamic Republic with the language of force and that they had to engage in proper dialogue, listen to Iran's positions, and that Iran hopes for favorable outcomes.”

The next round of negotiations between Iran and the United States will be held next Saturday and hosted by Oman, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Baghaei.

Baghaei's statement on Sunday contradicts a CNN report citing White House sources who said the next meeting was expected to take place in Europe next week.

He addressed commanders in Tehran on Sunday, describing the military as the nation’s shield and saying Iran’s progress had left its enemies frustrated.

“What makes them hostile is not the name of the Islamic Republic, but the resolve of a Muslim and independent nation that refuses to rely on others for its dignity,” Khamenei said.

He called for ongoing upgrades in capacity—including weapons, logistics, and personnel welfare—alongside a parallel emphasis on ideological commitment.

Khamenei told military officers that foreign actors were actively working to undermine belief in the legitimacy of the armed forces’ mission.

“Armies that lack conviction, courage, and trust in their cause have collapsed, no matter how heavily equipped they were,” Khamenei added, accusing Western powers of hypocrisy for opposing Iran’s military development while holding massive arsenals of their own.

He acknowledged economic weaknesses but warned against allowing them to overshadow what he called advances in both physical preparedness and national morale.

Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri also echoed the call for readiness, referring to Iran’s weapons production, joint exercises, and cooperation between military branches. He praised Iran’s role in supporting Gaza and Lebanon and said public backing remained strong.

“The armed forces are fully prepared, and the enemy will fail to achieve its goals,” Bagheri said.

The comments follow recent threats by US officials, including president Donald Trump over Iran’s nuclear activities and regional support for proxies.

After Trump’s threats of a military strike, Tehran agreed to indirect talks, despite a previous refusal by Khamenei.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Sunday emphasized the need for the country's armed forces to maintain maximum readiness and enhance both their hardware and software capabilities, saying Iran's advancements have angered its adversaries.

In a meeting with senior military commanders and officials on the occasion of the new Iranian year, Khamenei described the armed forces as the nation's shield and refuge against any aggressor.

He stressed the importance of continuous efforts to strengthen preparedness and improve both military equipment and the spiritual and ideological commitment of personnel.

He added that it is Iran's desire to be Muslim, independent, and self-reliant that provokes the anger of its enemies, not merely its name.

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