In a fiery escalation of tensions, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a stark warning to the United States and its ally Israel, calling the latter a "dog on a leash." During a recent address on state television, Khamenei praised the resilience of the Iranian nation in standing up to American power and hinted at more severe retaliatory actions following last month's attack on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. He ominously suggested that an even bigger blow could be on the horizon for Washington and its partners.

Despite recent U.S. and Israeli strikes that have reportedly set back Iran's nuclear ambitions by up to two years, security experts caution that Tehran's missile and drone capabilities remain a potent threat. Israel estimates that Iran still holds around 1,500 medium-range ballistic missiles and retains significant launching capacity, even after targeted strikes on its stockpiles. Experts warn that this arsenal, particularly the precise short-range ballistic missiles, could pose a serious risk to U.S. regional bases in any future conflict.

On the diplomatic front, the clock is ticking. Western nations are weighing the reimposition of snapback sanctions if nuclear negotiations with Iran fail to yield results by summer's end. Such a move could push Iran to abandon the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, a cornerstone agreement involving nearly 190 countries. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has expressed a willingness to engage in talks to avert further military escalation but emphasized he’s in no rush to sit at the negotiating table, even as deadlines loom.

As the international community, including European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal, scrambles for a sustainable diplomatic solution, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The delicate balance between dialogue and deterrence hangs in the balance, with the specter of renewed conflict casting a long shadow over the region.

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Iran's Khamenei Warns of Bigger Blow to US as Trump Stays Unhurried on Nuclear Talks