Iran Vows “Crushing” Retaliation as Trump Threatens Escalation in Ongoing Conflict
Tehran rejects U.S. demands as “irrational,” denies ceasefire talks, and warns it is prepared for further military confrontation
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Iran’s military on Thursday vowed to carry out “crushing” attacks against the United States and Israel, following sharp threats from Donald Trump that Washington could escalate the conflict and bomb Iran into the “Stone Ages” in the coming weeks.
In a statement broadcast on state television, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the country’s military operational command, warned that the confrontation would persist until the United States faces “humiliation, disgrace, permanent and certain regret, and surrender.”
“Await our more crushing, broader, and more destructive actions,” the statement added, signaling the potential for intensified attacks.
The warning came as Trump delivered a wide-ranging primetime address on Thursday, marking one month since the United States launched “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran.
The U.S. president described the campaign as highly successful, claiming American forces had achieved “swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield.”
Trump asserted that Iran’s naval capabilities had been effectively eliminated and its air force severely degraded. He also said that much of the country’s military leadership had been killed and that the command structure of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was being “decimated.”
According to Trump, Iran’s ability to deploy missiles and drones had been “dramatically curtailed,” while weapons production facilities and launch systems were being systematically destroyed.
Meanwhile, Tehran dismissed Washington’s diplomatic posture, rejecting any suggestion of ongoing negotiations. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said messages had been exchanged through intermediaries, including Pakistan, but emphasized that “there is no direct negotiation with the U.S.”
Baqaei criticized U.S. demands as “maximalist and irrational,” according to remarks carried by Iranian state media, and reiterated that Iran was prepared for all scenarios, including the possibility of a ground invasion.
The exchange of threats highlights a rapidly escalating conflict, with both sides signaling readiness for further confrontation amid the absence of direct diplomatic engagement and growing fears of a broader regional war.