Iran’s Foreign Ministry hit back at President Trump’s latest threat to bomb the country if it restarts its nuclear program, calling the US a “law-breaking country” as Iranian military officials warned they’re prepared to face another attack.
According to Newsweek, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei condemned Trump’s threat as a “criminal and illegal act” and said it would reinforce the US’s reputation as a nation that doesn’t follow international law.
“It will be clear to the international community and to the Iranian nation that the United States is a law-breaking country,” Baghaei said.
The president made the threat on Sunday while delivering a speech to US Navy sailors in Norfolk, Virginia. He also praised the US military’s bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities and warned the US was “not going to wait so long this time” if Iran does restart its nuclear enrichment.
Baghaei also rejected the idea of talks with the US, calling Washington’s position “irresponsible and obstructive.” The US is demanding that Iran enter negotiations under the condition that it will agree to eliminate its civilian nuclear enrichment program and impose curbs on its ballistic missiles, two demands Iranian officials have made clear are non-starters.
Iranian officials have previously said they would need assurances that Iran wouldn’t be attacked again to restart talks with the US, since the 12-day US-Israeli war against Iran was launched under the cover of negotiations. Israel started the war on June 13, two days before the US and Iran were set to hold another round of talks.
Also on Monday, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the IRGC’s naval forces were prepared to respond to any attack in the Persian Gulf. “If the enemies make any [threatening] move in the sea and on the islands, they will receive a firm response,” said Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, according to Iran’s PressTV.
“As the Armed Forces brought the Zionist regime and the United States to their knees during the 12-day imposed war, if the enemies carry out any [threatening] move in the sea or on the islands, the IRGC Navy will respond with full readiness,” Pakpour added.
