The US State Department said on Tuesday that Iran could possess a nuclear bomb within weeks, and warned the Iranian Revolutionary Guards against destabilizing the region, stressing its commitment to Israel's security.
"Iran could obtain a nuclear bomb within weeks, so we want a mutual return to the nuclear agreement," the State Department said in a statement.
The statement indicated that the United States is awaiting a constructive response from Iran regarding the revival of the 2015 nuclear agreement.
He added that this constructive response should abandon "non-essential" issues, in reference to Tehran's demand to drop the Revolutionary Guards from a US list of terrorist organizations.
The State Department said that if Iran made this political decision, we would be in a position to return to the nuclear agreement.
She made it clear that she did not want to set a date for Iran's return to the nuclear deal.
Washington stressed that "our steps in self-defense against the Iranian escalation are wise, and we do not seek to increase tension in the region."
At the same time, Washington renewed its commitment to Israel's security, and did its utmost to stop what it called the destabilization of the Revolutionary Guards in the region.
The US State Department said that "the challenge posed by Iran" will top Biden's agenda during his visit to the region next July.
US President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia in the middle of next month as part of a Middle East tour that will lead him to the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.
slap
For its part, the Iranian army vowed a strong response to the slightest threat to the country's territory.
"The slightest threat from the enemy will be met with a strong slap from our forces, which monitor all enemy movements outside Iran's borders," said Brigadier General Alireza El-Hami, deputy commander of the Air Defense Forces.
In a speech to a gathering of military leaders, Al-Hami stressed the role and impact of the superiority of the deterrence force of Iran's air defense at the international level.
He added that the Iranian Air Force has today become one of the strongest pillars of national defense against foreigners.
The frequency of threats between Israel and Iran has increased in recent weeks after the assassination of Hassan Sayyad Khadayi, an officer in the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards, in Tehran on May 22, and Israel's bombing of Damascus International Airport a few days ago.
Tehran accuses Tel Aviv of being behind the assassination of its officers.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Monday that the response to Israel's actions would be in its place and not in a third country.