The story: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the US of attempting a Libya-style shutdown of Iran’s nuclear facilities. This comes as some Iranian officials have indicated that the Islamic Republic may turn to nuclear weapons if pushed into a corner. But rather than being welcomed amid tension with Israel, such remarks have sparked a cross-partisan backlash—with both media and pundits portraying such discourse as a pretext for the west to further sanction Iran.

The coverage: Khamenei on Apr. 24 said western sanctions are designed to pressure Tehran into pursuing "colonial" policies, vowing that...