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'Impossible to cover up': Iran threatens 'decisive' response after Trump vows to 'wipe out' nuclear programme
Iran has issued a stern warning, vowing to respond 'in a more decisive manner' if the United States or Israel carries out another strike on its nuclear facilities in the near future.
The warning came on Monday from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in response to US President Donald Trump's threat to 'wipe out' Iran's nuclear programme if it resumes atomic activity.
'If aggression is repeated, we will not hesitate to react in a more decisive manner and in a way that will be IMPOSSIBLE to cover up,' Araghchi said in a post on X.
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Araghchi also stressed that diplomacy, not threats, is the only effective solution to concerns surrounding Iran's nuclear programme.
'If there are concerns about the possible diversion of our nuclear program into non-peaceful purposes, the 'military option' proved incapable, but a negotiated solution may work,' he added.
The full extent of damage from the US strikes remains unclear. These strikes followed a surprise Israeli bombing campaign, which Israel claimed was aimed at halting Iran's nuclear weapons ambitions. The twin assaults have disrupted nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington that had only recently resumed in April.
During a visit to Scotland on Monday, Trump defended the earlier airstrikes and issued fresh warnings.
'They can start again. If they do, we'll wipe it out faster than you can wave your finger at it,' he said.
Iran had earlier retaliated with missile attacks on Israeli cities and a U.S. base in Qatar, though Trump previously downplayed the severity of those responses.
Just a month ago, fierce clashes erupted between Iran and Israel, with Tel Aviv targeting nuclear facilities and killing top Iranian generals and scientists.
At the heart of the standoff remains the issue of uranium enrichment. While Tehran insists it has the sovereign right to enrich uranium, Washington sees that as a 'red line.' According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran is the only country without nuclear weapons enriching uranium to 60 per cent, just below the 90 per cent needed for weapons-grade material.
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Iran has repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons and has shown willingness to negotiate enrichment levels, but not to relinquish its right to enrichment entirely.
'No one in their right mind would abandon the fruits of tremendous investment in homegrown and peaceful technology just because of foreign bullying,' Araghchi said in his post.
Israel's Op Rising Lion
Meanwhile, Israeli forces launched a large-scale military operation, codenamed 'Operation Rising Lion,' targeting Iran's key nuclear sites including Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. Nearly 200 warplanes dropped more than 330 bombs and missiles on over 100 locations—including enrichment facilities, centrifuge workshops, missile systems, and command centres.
US strikes on Iranian facilities
Following that, on June 22, the United States carried out its own high-impact strike under 'Operation Midnight Hammer.' B-2 stealth bombers and Tomahawk missiles delivered 14 powerful bunker-buster bombs, severely damaging all three of the targeted nuclear sites.
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