In response to recent US airstrikes, an Iranian military spokesperson delivered a strong message to the United States. The spokesperson stated that the attacks have expanded the number of legitimate targets available to Iran. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, representing Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, warned of serious consequences for the US actions and labeled former President Trump as “the gambler,” vowing retaliation. Zolfaqari’s English statement concluded with a direct message: “Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it.” Iran’s military has framed its potential response as an act of self-defense, following the US attacks on its nuclear sites. Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, indicated that Iran will determine the timing, nature, and scale of its response to the strikes on Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, asserting that the US has undermined diplomacy. Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump claimed the US strikes inflicted monumental damage, asserting precise hits on all three nuclear locations. However, expert assessments of the damage are still pending, and some suggest Iran may have anticipated the attacks by relocating critical materials.
