Iran Threatens Retaliation After Trump’s Speech
On Thursday, Iran’s military issued a warning of a severe retaliatory attack against the United States following President Trump’s declaration of a major victory in Operation Epic Fury during a national address.
Tehran responded angrily to Trump’s remarks, where he called for returning Iran to the Stone Age and labeled its government as “fanatic” and “the most violent regime on earth.”
Military operations commander Khatam al-Anbiya stated on state television, “With faith in Almighty God, this war will continue until you surrender in humiliation, with permanent and definite regret. Await our more shocking, broader, more destructive actions.”
In his address, President Trump praised the military’s swift actions, claiming that Iran’s assets had been obliterated and much of its leadership eliminated.
He asserted, “Tonight, the Iranian navy is gone. The air force is in ruins. Most of the leaders of their terrorist regime are dead.”
Trump emphasized that the command and control structure of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was being effectively dismantled, and he noted a significant reduction in their missile and drone capabilities. “Their weapons factories and rocket launchers are in ruins, and very little remains,” he added.
He remarked, “Never in the history of warfare has an enemy suffered such clear and devastating mass losses in a matter of weeks.”
While stating that Tehran was no longer a real threat, Trump warned that bombings would persist. “We’re going to hit them very hard. Over the next two to three weeks, we will return them to their rightful place in the Stone Age,” he said.
Trump referenced ceasefire discussions but threatened to disable Iran’s power plant network if an agreement was not reached.
To address the skepticism surrounding the war, he referred to the operation as an “investment” in the future, linking it to rising fuel prices and low public approval. “This is a real investment in the future of your children and grandchildren,” he noted.
He sought to contextualize the current conflict by comparing it to historical wars, mentioning the durations of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Iraq War. His aim appears to be putting the ongoing situation into a historical framework to garner support.
Public sentiment continues to lean against the war, with many Americans expressing skepticism, and this is echoed by concerns from allies. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged Trump to clarify U.S. objectives, while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended NATO amid Trump’s considerations of withdrawing the U.S. from the Iran defense pact.
