Iran will deliver ‘strong blow’ against US if it attacks, Khamenei says

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated on Monday that the U.S. would face a significant retaliation if it follows through on President Donald Trump’s warning to launch strikes unless Tehran secures a new nuclear agreement with Washington.

On Sunday, Trump reaffirmed his warning that Iran would face bombing if it fails to accept his proposal for discussions presented in a letter to Iran’s leaders in early March, allowing Tehran a two-month period to decide.

On Monday, Iran issued a warning regarding Trump’s threats directed at Switzerland’s embassy, which serves U.S. interests and acts as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, according to state media. In its alert, Tehran showed resolve to react “decisively and immediately” to any threats.

Iranian officials hold the West accountable for recent disturbances, including the 2022-2023 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman arrested for purportedly violating hijab regulations, as well as the nationwide protests in 2019 concerning fuel price hikes.

Last week, Iran replied to the U.S. letter, with President Masoud Pezeshkian stating on Sunday that Tehran would avoid direct talks with Washington but was open to ongoing indirect discussions, adhering to a directive from Khamenei.

“An overt threat of ‘bombing’ by a national leader towards Iran is a startling attack on the core principles of global peace and security,” tweeted Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday.

“Violence breeds violence, peace begets peace. The U.S. can choose the course and concede to consequences.”

Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Commander Amirali Hajizadeh threatened U.S. forces in the Middle East, saying in remarks to media that “Americans have at least 10 bases in the region with 50,000 troops. They are in a glass house and should not throw stones.”

During his initial term from 2017 to 2021, Trump pulled the U.S. out of a 2015 agreement between Iran and global powers that imposed stringent restrictions on Tehran’s controversial nuclear operations in return for easing sanctions. Trump likewise reinstated broad U.S. sanctions.

Since that time, Iran has greatly exceeded the restrictions on uranium enrichment outlined in that agreement.

Western nations charge Iran with secretly pursuing a plan to create nuclear weapons capacity by enriching uranium to a degree of fissile purity that exceeds what they consider acceptable for a civilian nuclear energy initiative. Tehran asserts that its nuclear program is entirely for peaceful energy uses.