Iran issues warning to ‘gambler' Trump: We will end this war
ISTANBUL/WASHINGTON/OCCUPIED JERUSALEM: Iran said on Monday that the U.S. attack on its nuclear sites expanded the range of legitimate targets for its armed forces and called U.S. President Donald Trump a 'gambler' for joining Israel's military campaign against the Islamic Republic.
Since Trump joined Israel's campaign by dropping massive bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday morning, Iran has repeatedly threatened to retaliate.
But while it has continued to fire missiles at Israel, it has yet to take action against the United States itself, either by firing at U.S. bases or by targeting the 20% of global oil shipments that pass near its coast at the mouth of the Gulf.
'Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it,' Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, said on Monday in English at the end of a recorded video statement.
Iran and Israel traded another wave of air and missile strikes on Monday as the world braced for Tehran's response.
Trump's administration has repeatedly said that its aim is solely to destroy Iran's nuclear programme, not to open a wider war.
But in a social media post on Sunday, Trump openly spoke of toppling the hardline clerical rulers who have been Washington's principal foes in the Middle East since Iran's 1979 revolution.
'It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!' he wrote.
Experts surveying commercial satellite imagery said it appeared that the U.S. attack had severely damaged the site of Iran's Fordow nuclear plant, built inside a mountain, and possibly destroyed it and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed, although there was no independent confirmation.
Trump called the strike a 'Bullseye!!!'.
Iran weighs retaliation against US for strikes on nuclear sites
'Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran,' he wrote. 'The biggest damage took place far below ground level.'
More Israeli strikes
Israel's airstrikes on Iran have met little resistance from Iranian defences since Israel launched its surprise attack on June 13, killing many of Iran's top commanders.
The Israeli military said on Monday that about 20 jets had conducted a wave of strikes against military targets in western Iran and Tehran overnight. In Kermanshah, in western Iran, missile and radar infrastructure was targeted, and in Tehran a surface-to-air missile launcher was struck, it said.
Iranian news agencies reported air defences had been activated in central Tehran districts, and Israeli air strikes had hit Parchin, the location of a military complex southeast of the capital.
Iran says more than 400 people have been killed in the Israeli attacks, mostly civilians, but has released few images of the damage since the initial days of the bombing.
Tehran, a city of 10 million people, has largely emptied, with residents fleeing to the countryside to escape attacks.
Iran's retaliatory missile strikes on Israel have killed 24 people, all civilians, and injured hundreds, the first time a significant number of Iranian missiles have ever penetrated Israeli defences.
The Israeli military said a missile launched from Iran in the early hours of Monday had been intercepted by Israeli defences.
Air raid sirens blared overnight in Tel Aviv and other parts of central Israel.
Limited retaliation
Beyond those missiles, Iran's ability to retaliate is far more limited than a few months ago, since Israel inflicted defeat on Iran's most feared regional proxy force, Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose downfall was swiftly followed by that of Iran's most powerful client ruler, Syria's Bashar al-Assad.
Iran's most effective threat to hurt the West would probably be to restrict global oil flows from the Gulf. Oil prices spiked on Monday at their highest since January.
US strikes 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear ambitions, Pentagon chief says
But they have not yet shot up to crisis levels, indicating that traders see a path out of the conflict that avoids serious disruption.
Brent crude futures were down 0.5% to $76.64 a barrel as of 0830 GMT, after briefly jumping above $80 at the opening.
Iran's parliament has approved a move to close the Strait of Hormuz that leads into the Gulf, which would require approval from the Supreme National Security Council, a body led by an appointee of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Attempting to strangle the strait could send global oil prices skyrocketing, derail the world economy and invite conflict with the U.S. Navy's massive Fifth Fleet that patrols the Gulf from its base in Bahrain.
'It's economic suicide for them if they do it. And we retain options to deal with that,' U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
As Tehran weighed its options, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. The Kremlin has a strategic partnership with Iran, but also close links with Israel.
Speaking in Istanbul on Sunday, Araqchi said his country would consider all possible responses and there would be no return to diplomacy until it had retaliated. TASS news agency later quoted him as saying Iran and Russia were coordinating their positions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
Bilawal condemns US attack on Iran, warns India over IWT breach
Listen to article Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said on Monday that Pakistan would consider war if India refused to honour the Indus Waters Treaty, while condemning recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, calling them "based on lies," Express News reported. Addressing the National Assembly during the ongoing budget session, Bilawal said the attacks on Iran's nuclear sites and the targeting of scientists and journalists were unjustified and violated international norms. He said his party was consulted on the budget this time, and some of its inputs had been incorporated into the budget. He appreciated the government for expressing consent to PPP's recommendations, including leaving the digital tax on services to the jurisdiction of the provinces and reducing the sales tax on solar panels from eighteen percent to ten percent. Bilawal expressed satisfaction over improvements in economic indicators, especially the reduction in inflation as a result of the government's policies. He commended the twenty percent increase in the budget of the Benazir Income Support Program. Read: India failed both militarily and diplomatically against Pakistan: Bilawal He demanded the declaration of an agricultural emergency, saying that it would provide relief to farmers and protect the economy's backbone. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari mentioned that the defence budget had been enhanced by twenty percent because of India's hostile posture. He said Pakistan had once again internationalized the Kashmir dispute. Referring to the visit of a high-level delegation led by him to various capitals, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said Pakistan had defeated India on the battlefield, as well as on the diplomatic and narrative fronts. He said they presented Pakistan's stance and narrative based on peace. He said India had only two options: either to comply with the Indus Water Treaty, or Pakistan would wage a war to secure water from all six rivers. He added that such actions were part of a broader pattern of aggression that started with Gaza, continued in Yemen, and has now reached Iran. Read More: 'No military solution to Pak-India disputes' He warned, 'If India does not respect the Indus Waters Treaty, Pakistan will go to war,' stressing that India has already lost and Pakistan has already won on the diplomatic and political fronts. Tension between Pakistan and India began on April 22, when an attack in Pahalgam killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for the incident. However, Pakistan categorically rejected the Indian blame. In response, India undertook a series of hostile actions the next day on April 23, including suspending the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), cancelling visas for Pakistani citizens, closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing, ordering the shutdown of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, and reducing diplomatic staff at each other's embassies. Criticising previous Pakistani leadership for what he described as weak responses to Indian actions in Kashmir, Bilawal said the current government had demonstrated resolve by downing six Indian fighter jets in response to Indian incursions, asserting that the issue of Kashmir had been internationalised once again. He further alleged that both Indian and Israeli lobbies were actively working to malign Pakistan globally, including attempts to place the country back on the FATF grey list — efforts he said had failed. Bilawal called for peace between Pakistan and India but underlined the need for military preparedness, citing India's refusal to officially acknowledge the ceasefire. He praised the increase in Pakistan's defence budget and supported funding for non-controversial dams, while advocating for reduced taxes on solar energy and increased social support through the Benazir Income Support Programme. Responding to opposition heckling, Bilawal said his party, though not in the federal cabinet, remained committed to representing the people's concerns and bringing constructive criticism and proposals to the table.
Business Recorder
2 hours ago
- Business Recorder
NSC condemns Israeli strikes on Iran, warns of regional instability
Pakistan's National Security Committee (NSC) on Monday strongly condemned Israel's recent attacks on Iran, warning that the aggression could trigger a broader regional conflict and derail ongoing diplomatic efforts. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the high-level meeting, which reviewed the evolving regional situation in the wake of Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on June 22. The NSC expressed regret that the attacks coincided with a constructive negotiation process between Iran and the United States, calling Israel's actions 'reckless' and 'escalatory.' 'These reckless actions have escalated tensions, threatening to ignite a wider conflict and diminishing the opportunities for dialogue and diplomacy,' the Committee said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office. National Security Committee to meet today The NSC reaffirmed Iran's right to self-defence under the United Nations Charter and extended condolences to the Iranian government and people over the loss of innocent lives. It also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attacks. Calling the Israeli strikes a violation of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolutions, international law, and the UN Charter, the NSC voiced deep concern over the potential for further escalation in the region. The Committee reiterated Pakistan's commitment to regional peace and stability, emphasising the importance of dialogue and diplomacy. It also reaffirmed Islamabad's readiness to engage with relevant parties and support initiatives aimed at de-escalation. 'The Committee underscored the need for strict adherence to international human rights and humanitarian laws,' the statement added. The National Security Council is Pakistan's top decision-making forum on matters of national security and foreign policy, comprising senior civilian and military leadership.
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Israel assassinates IRGC members in Iran as missile strikes hit nuclear sites
Members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) navy participate in an exercise in Abu Musa Island, in this picture obtained on August 2, 2023. IRGC/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Listen to article At least 10 members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were assassinated in Israeli air strikes on the central province of Yazd on Sunday, Iranian media stated. Iran has not yet responded publicly to the reported deaths in Yazd. The IRGC, a powerful branch of Iran's military reporting directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, plays a central role in the country's foreign operations and oversees its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes. It comprises around 190,000 active personnel and was designated a terrorist organisation by the United States in 2019. An unspecified number of other IRGC personnel were also wounded in the strikes, which mark one of the deadliest Israeli attacks on Iranian territory since tensions escalated earlier this month, reported semi-official Tasnim News Agency. Israel has not officially confirmed the strike in Yazd but claims it has assassinated around two dozen Iranian military commanders and nuclear scientists since June 13. Israeli air strikes have killed several top Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists, including the commander of the IRGC Hossein Salami, in one of the most direct and deadly escalations between the two countries to date. IRGC has begun using the Kheibar Shekan missile—also known as the Khorramshahr-4—which was unveiled in 2022 and is believed to carry the heaviest payload among Iran's ballistic missiles. IRGC said its latest missile strikes targeted Ben Gurion International Airport and several research sites in Israel. Read: Timeline of Iran's nuclear programme Meanwhile, Iranian state media has confirmed the deaths of at least four senior military officials in Israeli strikes, including Salami, Armed Forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri, IRGC aerospace commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and General Gholamali Rashid. The attacks also killed six prominent nuclear scientists and wounded hundreds, as Israel targeted key infrastructure sites across Iran, including the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz. After the assasinations, Khamenei appointed Ahmad Vahidi as the new IRGC chief and Majid Mousavi as head of its aerospace division. The initial wave of Israeli strikes, involving approximately 200 fighter jets, hit multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Arak, Tabriz, and Kermanshah. In Kermanshah, near the Iraqi border, an underground ballistic missile storage facility was reportedly destroyed. Iranian authorities initially reported at least 80 people killed and over 320 wounded in the first round of attacks. However, updated figures from Human Rights Activists (HRA), a Washington-based monitoring group, indicate that Israeli strikes have killed at least 950 people and injured more than 3,450 across Iran to date. Read more: Global turmoil If Iran shuts Strait of Hormuz — but Pakistan may get a pass HRA reported that among the dead are 380 civilians and 253 members of Iran's security forces. The group, known for documenting the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests, cross-checks local reports with an independent network inside the country. Iran's government has not issued consistent nationwide casualty updates during the conflict. Its most recent count, released by the Health Ministry, reported 400 deaths and over 3,000 injuries—figures significantly lower than HRA's estimates. Among the injured is senior Iranian diplomat Ali Shamkhani, who has been leading negotiations with the United States. He is reported to be in critical condition following the strikes.
