'Mr Trump, the gambler – you may start this war, but we will end it': Iran issues direct warning to US
PTC Web Desk: Tensions between the United States and Iran have reached a critical point following US airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, prompting a fierce response from Tehran. In a strongly worded video statement released on Monday, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military command, warned the United States of “heavy consequences” and declared that the recent attacks have only widened the scope of Iran’s “legitimate targets.”
In a direct message aimed at US President Donald Trump, Zolfaqari referred to him as “the gambler”, asserting that while the US may have initiated the conflict, Iran will be the one to end it. “Mr. Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it,” he said in English at the end of his statement.
The comments come amid widespread anticipation over how Iran will respond to the strikes, which targeted key nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The Iranian military has emphasised its right to self-defense, confirming that retaliation is inevitable.
UN response: Iran will decide time and scale of retaliation
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, echoed this sentiment during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, declaring that the Iranian military will determine the “time, nature, and scale” of a proportionate response. Iravani condemned the US action, stating it marked the end of diplomatic efforts and accused Washington of unilaterally escalating the situation.
“The United States has decided to destroy diplomacy,” Iravani said, affirming that Iran’s counteraction will be “measured but decisive.”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump, posting on Truth Social, claimed the US had achieved a “bullseye” on all three targeted nuclear sites. He described the mission as having caused “monumental damage” to Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
However, independent defense analysts and satellite imagery review suggest that while damage is visible, the actual extent remains unclear. Some experts have speculated that Iran may have preemptively relocated sensitive nuclear materials, potentially reducing the operational impact of the US strikes.
- With inputs from agencies
