Iran Threatens ‘Ferocious’ Retaliation as Trump Weighs Military Action

Iran Threatens ‘Ferocious’ Retaliation as Trump Weighs Military Action

Iran has warned that it would respond “ferociously” to any military attack by the United States, raising fears of a wider regional conflict as Donald Trump considers possible strikes amid renewed tensions over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

The warning was issued on Monday by Iran’s Foreign Ministry as Washington confirmed that indirect nuclear talks with Tehran would resume on Thursday in Geneva. The escalating rhetoric from both sides has coincided with heightened US military deployments in the Middle East and growing diplomatic anxiety across the region.

Trump said last week that he was weighing a limited military assault if Iran failed to reach an agreement within a narrow timeframe, warning that Tehran had at most 15 days to make a deal. Iran responded by stressing that any strike—regardless of scale—would be treated as an act of aggression.

“And any state would react to an act of aggression… ferociously. That is what we would do,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said.

Iran has indicated it is preparing to submit a draft proposal on its nuclear programme to mediators in the coming days. The talks, being conducted indirectly through Oman, follow two previous rounds of negotiations held in Switzerland.

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Tehran insists its nuclear activities are strictly for civilian purposes, including energy production and medical use. Western governments, however, believe Iran is seeking the capability to develop an atomic weapon, a claim Tehran has repeatedly denied.

Washington has also pushed to expand the talks to include Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its support for militant groups across the Middle East. Iran has rejected those demands, saying only the nuclear issue is open for negotiation.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi described the resumption of talks as “a new window of opportunity,” but warned that any attack on Iran could trigger a crisis beyond its borders.

“The consequences of any renewed aggression would not remain confined to one country, and responsibility would rest with those who initiate or support such actions,” he said.

Tensions have also been rising domestically, with student protests in Iran resurfacing at the start of a new academic semester. Demonstrators have revived slogans from nationwide protests earlier this year, which were met with a deadly crackdown.

Growing fears of conflict have prompted several countries to issue travel and security advisories. India has urged its nationals to leave Iran, joining Sweden, Serbia, Poland and Australia, as concerns grow that a breakdown in diplomacy could spark a broader confrontation.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, diplomats say both sides remain engaged, with negotiations seen as the last viable option to avert a potentially devastating Iran-US military clash.

Iran Threatens ‘Ferocious’ Retaliation as Trump Weighs Military Action