Iran has made clear it will not accept external demands to curb its nuclear programme or significantly limit its missile capabilities, even if doing so could avoid—or delay—war. President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran seeks peace but refuses to “bow to coercion” on matters of defence and science. Meanwhile the Middle East is increasingly braced for what experts call an “inevitable” escalation: the region faces multiple fronts of confrontation—with Israel, U.S. interests, proxy groups, and contested nuclear- and missile-capable states—raising the risk that a relatively contained dispute could blow up into a wider war. :00 – INTRODUCTIONIRAN SAYS STRENGTHENING MILITARY CAPABILITIES IN ALL DOMAINSANOTHER IRAN-ISRAEL WAR “INEVITABLE”?IRAN DENIES IT TRIED TO KILL ISRAELI ENVOY IN MEXICOn18oc_crux | n18oc_world