Iran’s military has issued a stark warning to the United States and Israel, vowing a ‘harsher response’ to any act of aggression against the Islamic Republic. The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which coordinates operations between Iran’s Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), released a statement on Tuesday reiterating that the country’s retaliation would target pre-determined sites with immediate effect.
Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari declared, ‘Our capable and powerful forces have been at full readiness for a long time and are on trigger. In the event of any aggression or action against the Islamic Republic, they will immediately strike pre-determined targets with full force and face the aggressor America and the child-killing Zionist regime with an even harsher lesson than before.’ The statement comes amid heightened tensions following repeated threats from US President Donald Trump and US military commanders.
On April 7, Trump announced a two-week pause in the US-Israeli campaign against Iran, which had begun 40 days prior. Talks subsequently took place in Islamabad, Pakistan, but failed to yield a deal due to what Iran described as Washington’s ‘maximalist demands’ and refusal to abandon unreasonable positions. Iran has stated it will not rejoin negotiations unless the US lifts an illegal blockade imposed on Iranian vessels and ports.
The warning underscores the fragile state of diplomacy between the nations. Analysts note that the ongoing standoff carries risks of miscalculation that could escalate into broader conflict. Iran’s military has previously demonstrated its willingness to retaliate against perceived threats, as seen in its 2020 strikes on US bases in Iraq after the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani.
For more context on Iran’s military posture, see Wikipedia’s entry on the IRGC. The US-Iran tensions are covered in detail by Reuters. For background on the Islamabad talks, visit Al Jazeera.
Source: ARY News