As the possibility of a U.S. military strike on Iran looms, Iranian officials warned Wednesday that any attack would be met with a harsh and immediate response, potentially extending to Israel.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iranian security forces “have their finger on the trigger and are ready to respond to any aggression,” in comments carried by state media.
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(Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst, Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout via REUTERS, Anonymous/Getty Images)
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, echoed the warning, dismissing talk of a limited strike as “an illusion.” “Any U.S. military action at any level will be considered the beginning of a war and will be met with an immediate attack,” Shamkhani said, adding that the response would target “the aggressor, all its supporters and the heart of Tel Aviv.”
The remarks come amid escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and U.S. threats of possible military action. Earlier Wednesday, President Donald Trump renewed his public pressure on Iran, calling on Tehran to quickly come to the negotiating table over a new nuclear agreement.
In a Truth Social post, Trump warned that “time is running out” and reiterated recent statements that he had sent a “massive armada” toward the Islamic Republic in anticipation of a possible strike. “A massive Armada is heading to Iran. It is moving quickly, with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose,” Trump wrote, referring to naval forces, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. He compared the deployment to forces previously sent toward Venezuela, saying the fleet is "ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary.”
Trump added that he hopes Iran will “come to the table” and negotiate a “fair and equitable” deal that would prevent the acquisition of nuclear weapons. “As I told Iran once before, MAKE A DEAL! They didn’t, and there was 'Operation Midnight Hammer,' a major destruction of Iran. The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again,” he wrote.
Trump’s warning came hours after Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi denied that Tehran was currently negotiating with the United States. Araghchi, who led talks with the U.S. in previous nuclear negotiations before last year’s 12‑day war with Israel and subsequent American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, said he has had no recent contact with U.S. special envoy Steve Witjoff.
“We have not asked for negotiations. Of course there are countries trying to mediate, with whom we are in contact,” Araghchi said. “Negotiations cannot take place in an atmosphere of threats. The U.S. must understand this. Talks have rules, and they must be based on equality and mutual respect,” he added.