No talks, just ‘readiness’: Iran responds to Trump threats

Tehran has said it is preparing to defend itself from an “armada” of US warships

Iran has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s demand that it “make a deal,” declaring that it is “200 percent” ready to defend itself if Trump launches military strikes. The US president has threatened Tehran with a “far worse” attack than that on its nuclear facilities last summer.

In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump warned that a “massive armada” is closing in on Iran, and that it is ready “to fulfil its mission with speed and violence.” He urged Tehran to “make a deal” on the future of its nuclear program, or “the next attack will be far worse.”

Should Trump strike first, Iran will “give an appropriate response, not a proportionate one,” Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told reporters. Gharibabadi stated that this response could target US bases in the region, warning that Israel too could suffer losses.

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Iran is not in talks with the US, and its “main priority is to be 200 percent ready to defend itself,” he added.

Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations was more explicit in its response. “Last time the US blundered into wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it squandered over $7 trillion and lost more than 7,000 American lives,” it wrote in a post on X.

”Iran stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests – BUT IF PUSHED, IT WILL DEFEND ITSELF AND RESPOND LIKE NEVER BEFORE!” the post continued, aping Trump’s distinctive social media language.

The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in the Middle East this week, accompanied by three destroyers armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles. In addition to the F-35C and F/A-18 fighter jets carried by the Abraham Lincoln, the US also moved F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, Patriot missile batteries, and THAAD air defense systems to the region in recent days.

Iran has repeatedly cautioned Trump against making “any miscalculations.” Over the weekend, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that it is “more ready than ever, finger on the trigger” to defend the country, and promised “painful” consequences for any aggression from the US or Israel.