Iran has announced plans to prioritize its nuclear agenda in 2025, with a focus on the United States and Israel.
Speaking in Beijing on Saturday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated, “2025 will be a significant year for Iran’s nuclear issue.”
Tensions between Iran and Israel have reached unprecedented levels in recent months, and Araqchi’s remarks suggest Iran may be preparing for a resurgence of the “maximum pressure” strategy previously implemented by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
In 2018, Trump withdrew from a 2015 agreement brokered by former President Barack Obama, under which Iran agreed to limit uranium enrichment—critical for nuclear weapons development—in exchange for easing U.S. and U.N. sanctions.
Iran is reportedly concerned that Trump’s return could embolden Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch attacks on its nuclear facilities while also imposing stricter sanctions on its vital oil sector.
This announcement coincides with the Iranian rial hitting a record low against the U.S. dollar amid uncertainty surrounding Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025.
On Saturday, the rial fell to 820,500 per dollar in the unofficial market, down from 808,500 on Friday, according to exchange rate tracker Bonbast.com.