Iran warns of strong retaliation if US attacks

A big flag of Iran waving in the wind in Tehran, Iran.

Iran will deliver an unprecedented retaliation to any US attack, its mission to the United Nations said Wednesday, in response to a military threat from President Donald Trump.

“Iran stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests — BUT IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!” the mission wrote on X alongside a screenshot of Trump’s social media threat early Wednesday that a “massive Armada” was heading towards the Islamic Republic.

The Iranian mission, warning against US intervention, also referenced the United States’ casualties and expenditures in its past two wars.

“Last time the US blundered into wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it squandered over $7 trillion and lost more than 7,000 American lives,” the mission said.

Trump on Wednesday renewed threats to attack Iran, saying “time is running out” to make a deal on nuclear weapons.

“As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was ‘Operation Midnight Hammer,’ a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse!”

Trump has repeatedly left open the option of new military action against Iran after Washington joined Israel’s 12-day war in June aimed at degrading Iranian nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Punch