In a dramatic escalation, Iran’s top military commander has issued a stark warning of retaliation against the United States, declaring the country will never back down following U.S. strikes.
Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, the head of Iran’s armed forces, said the U.S. has “opened the door” for a military response after President Donald Trump ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
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- 1 Iran Warns of Consequences
- 2 U.S. Forces at Risk Across the Region
- 3 Nuclear Fears Intensify
- 4 Ongoing Strikes and Rising Tensions
“Criminal America has opened the door for the fighters of Islam in the Armed Forces for any action against its interests and army,” Mousavi warned. “And we will never retreat,” he declared.
Mousavi accused the U.S. of violating Iran’s sovereignty, stating it had “directly involved itself in the war by violating the sovereignty of Islamic Iran and infringing upon the sacred territory of our nation.”
On Sunday, President Trump described the operation as “very successful,” claiming U.S. forces had “totally obliterated” the three Iranian nuclear sites.
Iran Warns of Consequences
Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, issued a direct warning to Trump: “Mr. Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it,” he said in a recorded message.
While Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has yet to comment, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in Istanbul that the country has “multiple options” to strike back. Iran’s military leadership is currently meeting to coordinate a response.
Options reportedly under consideration include drone strikes and disrupting shipping in the Persian Gulf. Israel has warned of more operations inside Iranian territory, prompting close monitoring from Western intelligence for signs of Iranian retaliation or proxy mobilization.
U.S. Forces at Risk Across the Region
The U.S. has military sites across the region, with the Council on Foreign Relations estimating around 40,000 U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East. Eight sites are believed to host permanent American forces. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) may activate proxy groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen—many of which have previously targeted U.S. interests.
One of the key concerns is the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil route. Though there have been no disruptions to global oil supplies yet, any interference could cause a severe energy crisis.
Nuclear Fears Intensify
Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute, warned that Trump’s actions may accelerate Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “Trump just guaranteed that Iran will be a nuclear weapons state in the next 5 to 10 years. Particularly if the regime changes,” he posted on X.
Ongoing Strikes and Rising Tensions
Iranian forces reportedly fired missiles at buildings in Tel Aviv, injuring 86 people, according to Israel’s Ministry of Health. Despite Tehran’s fiery rhetoric toward the U.S., Iran might avoid a direct war with Washington and instead maintain hostilities with Israel.
Meanwhile, analysts caution that any regime change in Iran could bring more aggressive factions to power—groups more inclined to pursue nuclear weapons as a primary defense strategy.
