Iran told the US it will retaliate in a “firm and immediate” way if Donald Trump bombs the country. The US President has threatened to bomb the Islamic state “like never before” if it refuses to engage in direct talks with the White House over its nuclear programme.
Tehran responded to the threat in a letter, handing it to a Swiss diplomat to pass on to the White House. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said on X: “During the meeting, the Iranian diplomat condemned and dismissed the provocative statements that violate international law and the UN Charter.”
The Ministry added that their diplomat “formally delivered Iran’s official warning note”, which emphasised Iran’s “firm and immediate resolve to respond decisively to any threat”.
Trump is trying to pressure Tehran into a new deal over its nuclear ambitions, having torpedoed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed by Obama in 2015 during his first term.
The JCPOA placed significant restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.
The signatories to the deal, besides the US and Iran, included China, France, Russia and the UK.
Trump withdrew the United States from what he called the “decaying and rotten” deal in 2018, claiming it failed to curtail Iran’s missile programme and regional influence.
Iran subsequently began ignoring limitations on its nuclear programme a year later.
The US President had told Tehran on March 7 that they had two months to engage in new negotiations.
However, Iran rejected Trump’s ultimatum over the weekend, provoking a furious response from the US President.
Trump told NBC: “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing – it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.”
The threats also came as B-2 stealth bombers were deployed to the Chagos Islands as a stark warning to Iran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei then responded to Trump’s threat, saying the US would receive a “strong blow” if they decide to act.
The Supreme Leader said in a speech: “The enmity from the US and Israel has always been there.
“They threaten to attack us, which we don’t think is very probable, but if they commit any mischief, they will surely receive a strong reciprocal blow.”