Iran has warned that any major new attack by the United States and its allies would trigger sustained retaliation against American military bases and interests across the region, raising fears of a wider escalation in the Middle East.
Tehran’s warning came on Sunday after US President Donald Trump warned that he has entered a critical decision phase on the ongoing Iran war, cautioning that major developments will occur if Tehran fails to change its conduct.
Trump’s threats were met with Iran delcaring a “Code 100”, it’s highest alert level for all armed forces.
The US president described his current options as wiping the country out, allowing it to “rot” economically, or negotiating a deal, adding that “very big things are going to be happening in the not-so-distant future”.
“My question is if and when do I blow the entire nation up? They had better behave,” Trump told US network Fox News, detailing his approach to the war,” Trump said in his latest barrage of threats.
The latest exchange of threats comes nearly seven months into the US-Iran war, with no clear indication that either side is prepared to make the concessions needed to bring the conflict to an end.
The fighting has increasingly spilled beyond Iran and the United States, drawing regional powers and Iran-aligned armed groups into the crisis.
Trump’s threats against Iran came after Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the US fulfills commitments made under a June agreement and meets Tehran’s conditions.
Addressing parliament, Qalibaf said Iran has “explicitly conveyed its conditions to the opposing side through intermediaries”, according to state-run broadcaster IRIB.
“The enemy is well aware that the path of deception and unilateral imposition is closed; until these conditions are met, the legitimate rights of the Iranian nation are recognised, and American commitments are fulfilled, there will be no opening for a return to the previous state of negotiations or for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.
The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) High-level Week is taking place from September 18 to 28 at the UN Headquarters in New York, featuring the core General Debate from September 22 to 28.
Addressing wider regional hostilities, Trump said Washington remains in constant communication with Yemen’s Houthis following their recent ballistic missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, asserting that the group agreed to avoid fighting American forces.
Trump recently claimed that the war with Iran would “end after the midterms” of November.
The US State Department on Sunday issued a travel warning, citing escalating friction across the region.
It also cautioned that Iran and groups supporting it may target US interests, businesses, and institutions, as well as locations associated with Americans worldwide. – AA
