Iran warns of 'hell' if US resumes strikes; Trump says forces 'locked and loaded'
Iran has warned that it will "rain down hell" if the United States resumes attacks. US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said American forces are "locked and loaded" and fully ready to strike if necessary.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X on Sunday that he was serving Washington with an ultimatum in an attempt to end the two countries' eight-month war.
Araghchi wrote, "Our 2-day proposal stands: meet the requirements, including end to war on all fronts, and you will see results. Or choose war, and see our alert and battle-hardened warriors rain down hell."
Trump said on Sunday that renewed strikes on Iran are "highly unlikely" if negotiations progress over Tehran's nuclear programme and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
In a phone interview reported by CNN, Trump said, "It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement. I would [continue], if necessary, but we hit them really hard."
Trump said the United States has three aircraft carriers stationed in the region that are "fully locked and loaded", ready to continue strikes if need be.
He also said the US has 38 bridges in Iran's crosshairs that US forces "can knock down in literally one hour".
Iran's Foreign Ministry quoted Araghchi in an earlier statement on Sunday saying that Iran would "not go easy on American targets" in the region.
Araghchi's statements came after state media reported that an oil tanker caught fire earlier that morning after hitting a naval mine east of the Strait of Hormuz, citing Iran's navy.
The navy claimed the ship's identification systems were turned off and it was travelling in the no-go zone of the strait.
An adviser to the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Aerospace Force also issued threats echoing the foreign minister, saying that weapons have been "secured for years to come".
In a statement on Telegram, IRGC Brigadier-General Ali Belali said, "The armed forces are at the ready, and if the enemy makes a mistake, Iran's response will be devastating and severe."
Belali said that, as senior commanders of the armed forces have pointed out, "we have upgraded our capabilities in the post-Ramadan War period."
The back-and-forth between the Iranian and US leaders comes following US midterm elections in which the Democratic Party won control of both chambers of Congress, soundly defeating Trump's Republican Party.
Araghchi alleged that negotiations have been delayed as a result of the elections. Iranian state media quoted him as saying, "It will take some time for things to settle down and for the atmosphere to become conducive to the mediators resuming their visits. We have to wait."
