New Delhi: After US attacks on key nuclear sites in Iran, Iranian military on Monday issued a stern warning to Washington, stating it will execute powerful retaliatory operations against the United States. It said US’ direct attacks on Iranian nuclear sites have only expanded scope of “legitimate targets” by the Iranian armed forces.
In a recorded video statement, directly addressing US President Donald Trump, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, said that the US will have to deal with the “heavy consequences” of its actions. The Iranian official also called Trump “the gambler”.
“Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it,” Zolfaqari said in English in the statement.
The United States’ direct involvement in the conflict expands the range of legitimate targets for the Iranian armed forces, Iran’s military central command spokesperson said on Monday.
Addressing US President Donald Trump directly, Ebrahim Zolfaghari said in English: “Gambler… pic.twitter.com/gRPuOZxt0P
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) June 23, 2025
Earlier on Monday, Iran’s military declared that it will respond to the US attacks on its nuclear facilities, contending it as part of its right to self-defence.
Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, had said that the Iranian military will decide the “time, nature and scale” of its response to the US attacks on its nuclear sites.
The Iranian military will decide the “timing, nature and scale of Iran’s proportionate response”, he said during the UN Security Council emergency meeting on Sunday night.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday described the airstrikes by Israel launched on June 13 as “a big mistake”. “The Zionist enemy… is being punished right now,” Khamenei posted on social media.
US President Donald Trump had claimed that the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities had caused “monumental damage” to Tehran.
