Tehran, May 17 (EFE).- Iran warned Sunday that any new military aggression by the United States would trigger a “more forceful and severe” response, amid escalating rhetoric from Washington and stalled peace negotiations between the two countries.
Iran warned the United States on Sunday that any new military aggression against the country would provoke a “more forceful and severe” response, including “surprising and devastating” consequences, following renewed threats from U.S. President Donald Trump and amid stalled peace negotiations.
“Repeating any folly to compensate for the humiliation suffered by the United States in the third imposed war against Iran will only result in receiving even more forceful and severe blows,” Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi said, according to state television.
The brigadier general added that the “desperate president of the United States” should understand that, if his threats materialize and another attack against Iran occurs, “the assets and weakened army of that country will face new, offensive, surprising and devastating scenarios.”
He also warned that Washington could become trapped in “a swamp created by itself” as a result of Trump’s “adventurous policies.”
The comments came after Trump said Saturday that Iran “is going to have a very bad time” if it fails to reach an agreement with Washington. Hours later, he posted a video on his Truth Social account depicting a US ship shooting down an Iranian missile, captioned: “Ok, we have it in our sights. Fire. Boom.”
Negotiations between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Pakistan, remain deadlocked after the United States rejected Iran’s latest proposal, which Trump reportedly described as “a piece of trash.”
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday on the sidelines of the BRICS ministerial meeting in New Delhi that the two countries continue to exchange messages, although “slowly,” despite the diplomatic impasse.
In its latest proposal, Iran demanded compensation for damages caused during the war, recognition of its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, the release of Iranian assets frozen by Washington and the lifting of sanctions, while postponing discussions over its nuclear program to a later phase.
The ceasefire agreed upon by both sides on April 8 technically remains in place, although Trump warned a week ago that the truce was “incredibly fragile.”
On Feb. 28, the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, targeting military, civilian and industrial facilities and killing senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian authorities. More than 3,300 people have reportedly died in Iran since the conflict began.
In response, Iran launched missiles and drones at Israeli territory and US-linked targets in several Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, while also blocking the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies transit.
The United States has maintained a naval blockade around Iranian ports and vessels since April 13 in response to Tehran’s actions in Hormuz. EFE
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