Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a stern warning to the United States following renewed military threats from former US President Donald Trump, declaring Tehran's readiness to deliver a "harsh and regret-inducing" response to any aggression. The escalation comes amid heightened regional tensions over Iran's defense capabilities.
Trump's remarks on Monday during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Florida visit reignited tensions, with the former president stating: "Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, we're going to have to knock them down." This follows US airstrikes earlier this year targeting Iranian nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
Ali Shamkhani, political advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, reinforced Tehran's position on X: "Our missile capabilities are not permission-based. Any aggression will face immediate response beyond planners' imagination."
The exchange marks the latest chapter in ongoing tensions that peaked in June 2025 when Israeli airstrikes hit Iranian nuclear and military sites. Analysts note the current rhetoric risks destabilizing Middle Eastern security frameworks as 2025 draws to a close.
