Iran has warned it will respond severely to any aggression after President Donald Trump threatened further strikes if Tehran rebuilds its nuclear or missile capabilities. President Masoud Pezeshkian said any attack would be "severe and regret-inducing," comments that followed Trump’s meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu. The exchange raises fears of renewed conflict months after a destructive 12-day war in June that killed more than 1,100 Iranians and 28 Israelis. Analysts dispute claims that Iran’s nuclear capacity was completely destroyed and warn that hidden stockpiles could allow production to resume.
Iran Warns of 'Severe' Response After Trump Threatens Further Strikes
Iranian officials say the country's military is now stronger than before June's 12-day war with Israel and the US . [AP Photo/Vahid Salemi]
Iran has vowed a harsh response to any act of aggression after United States President Donald Trump said Washington could launch additional military strikes if Tehran rebuilds its nuclear programme or its missile capabilities.
Officials Exchange Stark Warnings
President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X that any attack on Iran would be met with a response that is "severe and regret-inducing." His comments followed a meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, where Trump reiterated support for Israel’s regional security concerns.
The administration in Washington has historically emphasised preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, though Trump suggested the US could also target Iranian missile infrastructure — a long-standing Israeli objective. Tehran insists its nuclear activities are for civilian purposes, and, prior to the June strikes, neither US intelligence nor the UN nuclear watchdog publicly found evidence of an Iranian weapons programme.
Risk Of Renewed Conflict
The exchange of threats raises the prospect of renewed hostilities just months after a destructive 12-day conflict in June. That campaign reportedly killed more than 1,100 Iranians and 28 people in Israel and saw intense cross-border strikes.
“Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again, and if they are, we’re going to have to knock them down,”
“We’ll knock the hell out of them,” Trump said standing beside Netanyahu, adding he would support immediate strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and, if necessary, attacks on missile sites.
Israeli officials have said they are worried Iran may be quietly rebuilding its ballistic missile stockpile after the June fighting, which reportedly depleted Iran’s arsenal. An Israeli source told Ynet this week that if the US does not secure an agreement to halt Iran’s missile programme, confrontation with Tehran "may be necessary."
Casualties, Damage and Disputed Assessments
Conflict monitors reported that Israel launched nearly 360 strikes across 27 Iranian provinces during the 12-day campaign, targeting military installations, nuclear-affiliated sites and government buildings. The strikes were said to have destroyed an estimated 1,000 ballistic missiles and killed dozens of senior commanders and scientists.
Iran responded by firing more than 500 missiles toward Israel, with around 36 striking populated areas. While Trump asserted that Iran’s nuclear capabilities were "completely obliterated" by the June strikes, analysts cautioned that Tehran may have concealed stockpiles of enriched uranium and could potentially resume production within months.
Despite the reported losses, Iranian officials say the country is now better prepared for future confrontations. Pezeshkian has described the standoff with the US, Israel and Europe as a "full-scale war" that he called more complicated than Iran’s 1980s conflict with Iraq.
The recent conflict did not produce the internal unrest some observers speculated might occur: no major nationwide protests emerged, and everyday life in Tehran largely continued despite the bombardment.
