Iran hardliner demands atomic bomb as Khamenei threatens 'unrestricted' retaliation against US

A senior Iranian lawmaker Saturday renewed demands that Tehran build an atomic bomb shortly after Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a defiant statement ordering military preparations for “an immediate and unrestricted response” against the US and Israel. “Given the threats facing the Iranian nation, it can be confidently stated that a change in the nuclear doctrine is the demand of the overwhelming majority of the heroic people of Iran,” Mahmoud Nabavian, a hardline member of Iran’s Parliament for Tehran, wrote on X .

“We must respond at the same level at which the enemy attacks us,” he added in a second post, citing a verse from the Quran that says one should retaliate against any aggression in equal measure. 4 There’s been activity at Iran’s nuclear sites since they were destroyed in joint US and Israeli strikes. ©2025 Maxar Technologies “The nuclear doctrine is determined and promulgated based on the country’s security and defense conditions,” he insisted.

Nabavian, the former first deputy chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, had previously urged the Khamenei to greenlight an atomic bomb — a position he’s held since at least 2024. His latest demand comes as Iran faces the prospect of renewed military action by the US and Israel — and marks a public push by hardliners to overturn Tehran’s longstanding official opposition to nuclear weapons. Explore More California sisters speak out after being stranded abroad by cruise ship that promised lifetime travel: ‘It was a risk’ Ex-Palestine supporter blasts ‘insane’ movement for ‘cherry-picking’ oppressors US, Iran race to revive Qatar talks as Trump weighs new strikes after midterms Nabavian’s call followed a brash statement by Khamenei ordering the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to update its list of US and Israeli targets to include all “physical and non-physical” assets within the reach of Iranian forces.

“If the enemies once again launch military attacks, it is the armed forces of the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation that will determine the time and conditions for ending them,” he said in a statement on his official social media accounts and broadcast on state media. The directive comes amid growing fears of renewed war in the Middle East, with the supreme leader now declaring Tehran will no longer limit itself to the region. 4 Mojtaba Khamenei issued the statement by writing.

He still hasn’t been seen or heard since taking over from his father. via REUTERS “Any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response,” he wrote on his official X account . “The spirit of jihad must be strengthened,” he proclaimed in another post . Khamenei met Saturday with Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ali Abdollahi, Army Commander Amir Hatami and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Ahmad Vahidi.

The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency described the directive as a significant expansion of Iran’s position, saying Tehran was no longer restricting military action to the Middle East. 4 Khamenei called for a wider geographic response to any threat against Iran. IRGC HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock Abdollahi said Iran’s armed forces have already prepared a new list of US and Israeli targets and assets across a wider geographical area, warning of an “unimaginable response” to any renewed attacks.

“We will respond to the enemy with great force and intensity, without geographical limits,” Abdollahi, said in a message, Iran International reported. Senior lawmaker Mojtaba Zarei said any location used to launch an attack against Iran could become a military target. 4 Khamenei said he ordered military commander to expand list of US and Israeli targets. Anadolu via Getty Images “The Islamic Republic’s new defense doctrine is based on the principle that any location from which an attack against Iran originates can fall within the scope of the country’s defensive response,” said Zarei, a member of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee.

The threats come amid growing fears that diplomatic efforts to prevent another round of fighting could collapse, with US and Iranian officials weighing possible negotiations in Qatar.