Iran has asserted that its nuclear program is meant for peaceful purposes, however, amidst the looming threat of a full-scale Iran-Israel war, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is facing increasing pressure from several high-power corners in the country to lift the ban imposed on developing nuclear weapons.

Iran has strongly condemned Israel’s military threats and denounced Western criticism of its defense capabilities as outrageous and irrational, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.