
The Iranian military warned US President Donald Trump on Monday that the “war” he started by joining Israeli attacks on Iran will be “finished” by Tehran.
In a video broadcast by state media, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, the spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya central headquarters, said Iran would respond to the US’ Sunday attack with “powerful and targeted operations that will inflict heavy, regretful, and unpredictable consequences.”
“Not only was (the US attack) futile, but it will also broaden the scope of legitimate and diverse targets for (Iran’s military) and lay the groundwork for the expansion of war across the region,” he said.
“Mr. Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it,” he added in English.
Meanwhile, chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Seyyed Abdolrahim Mousavi said the US “openly and directly entered the war by violating the sovereignty of Islamic Iran and violating the sacred soil of our country.”
He added that “criminal America” should know that “it has opened the hands of the warriors of Islam in the armed forces to take any action against its interests and army, and we will never back down in this regard.”
On Sunday, the US for the first time in the conflict bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities of Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
While satellite imagery shows extensive damage to the Fordow site, which extends deep underground, experts say it is unconfirmed just how badly it was damaged.
However, Trump took to his platform Truth Social on Sunday night to claim “obliteration” of the site.
“Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term! The white structure shown is deeply imbedded into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and completely shielded from flame. The biggest damage took place far below ground level. Bullseye!!!” he wrote.
Israel and Iran have exchanged daily missile and drone attacks since the early hours of Friday the 13th, when the Jewish state launched bombings against Iran.
At least 430 people have been killed and some 3,500 were injured in Iran, most of them civilians, while 24 people have been killed in Israel.