DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s top diplomat warned Thursday that his country would take “special measures in defense of our nuclear facilities” if Israel continues to threaten Tehran’s atomic sites, raising the stakes further ahead of a new round of talks with the United States.

At an international conference in Tehran, top Iranian officials said they were eager to make a deal with Trump but that they wouldn’t buckle under pressure.

Tehran: Iran's weapons-manufacturing organization SPND is secretly expanding its nuclear capabilities, according to the reports. SPND has established a secret facility for building nuclear weapons, known as the "Rangin Kaman (Rainbow) site.

The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces highlighted the country’s efforts to ensure sustainable security across the region, warning that any threat will draw Iran’s proportional response.

Iran and Azerbaijan armed forces on Sunday kicked off four days of joint military drills in the city of Hadrut in occupied Artsakh.

Iran’s supreme leader has pushed back against U.S. criticism of the country’s nuclear program. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tuesday that Tehran won’t seek permission from anyone to enrich uranium and called American statements “nonsense.

President Donald Trump told reporters Monday that “very good things” are happening in his nuclear diplomacy with Iran, adding, “I think they’re being very reasonable thus far.” His optimistic tone was echoed by Iranian diplomats and Omani mediators,

STORY: Oil prices jumped Wednesday over fears that Israel could be planning an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. International benchmark Brent Crude was up around 1.5% by mid afternoon in Asia. That followed reports by CNN that Israel is planning an air strike.