Iran's nuclear program at 'extreme danger' level, think tank warns

Iran is entering indirect negotiations with the United States reluctantly and without full confidence in their outcome, former diplomat Mohammad-Javad Larijani said in a televised interview on Thursday.

“We and the Iranian people fully trust our government and the current foreign minister, and we pray for their success,” Larijani said. “But the very nature of indirect talks shows our hesitation.”

"The US government wants to say: 'I forced Iran—the same Iran whose great commander (Qassem Soleimani) I proudly killed—to sit at the table with me for direct negotiations," he said.

The former top advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei warned that even if an agreement is reached, it may lack a solid foundation. Iran, he added, could have conveyed its positions to the United States through Oman to first assess whether talks were worthwhile.

“Since February 2024, the date of the last edition of the Geiger Counter, the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program has worsened significantly,” the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) said in its report published Tuesday.

The Geiger Counter is an assessment tool used by the institute to measure the threat posed by Iran to the United States and its allies, focusing on its potential to develop nuclear weapons.

The report cited several factors contributing to its finding, including Iran’s increased nuclear capabilities, shorter timelines to develop nuclear weapons and growing internal discussions about weaponization.

It raised concerns over Iran's continued development of advanced centrifuges and the possibility of secret enrichment plants. Iran's non-cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East have further intensified fears of the country’s nuclear ambitions, the report said.

The report raised Iran’s overall threat score to 157 out of 180, up from 151 in February 2024, indicating "Extreme Danger."

The report comes as Washington and Tehran prepare for indirect talks on reaching a nuclear deal, with US President Donald Trump announcing the negotiations will begin on Saturday.

Israel fears the US president could agree to a mediocre deal with Iran on its disputed nuclear program, The Jerusalem Post reported on Thursday citing top Israeli sources.

If Trump agrees to such a deal, he may restrict the Israeli military's current unique opportunity to attack Iranian nuclear facilities, the sources were quoted as saying.

Some Israeli sources cited by the Israeli daily believe Trump’s readiness to negotiate with Iran now makes a mediocre deal more likely.

Other sources, however, believe Trump understands a deal with Iran will not solve its nuclear problem and that an Israeli attack will eventually be necessary, the report added.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the Trump administration is hopeful about the "direct talks" between the US president's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian officials slated for Saturday in Oman.

"We hope that will lead to peace," he said.

"We've been very clear: what Iran is never going to have is a nuclear weapon. And I think that's what led to this meeting and we'll wait for him to come back from it and we're hopeful about that."

“Despite all their claims, the United States and the Zionist regime are ineffective in practice,” said Revolutionary Guard Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani at an event in Tehran on Thursday.

“They cannot even understand how our missiles strike their targets with such precision. This is our power.”

Qaani said Western-backed forces, though well-equipped, remained “helpless before the will of determined nations.”

At the same time, Navy Commander Shahram Irani said Iran’s maritime strength had reached unprecedented levels, saying international actors now viewed his forces as a superpower.

"Today, the enemies view the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Strategic Naval Force of the Army as a superpower, and the devil is seeking direct confrontation at sea. By the grace and power of God, we will defeat and drown the devil in the sea, just like Pharaoh’s people."

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 has agreed to indirect talks, despite a previous refusal by Khamenei.