Iran has issued a direct warning in response to renewed pressure from President Donald Trump over a nuclear agreement, saying its military is prepared to retaliate immediately against any perceived aggression. As first highlighted by Fox News, the statement came from Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and signals a sharp escalation in rhetoric between the two sides.
Araghchi delivered the message publicly on X, confirming that Iran’s armed forces are on high alert as the United States increases its military presence in the region. In a development that echoes recent political standoffs like GOP lawmakers drawing a hardened stance on funding negotiations in Washington this week, Tehran’s comments underscore its refusal to back down amid what it views as mounting military pressure from Washington.
The exchange follows a fresh warning from President Trump earlier this week as U.S. naval forces began moving toward the Middle East. The president cautioned that time was running out for Iran to agree to a nuclear deal, framing the deployment as a show of strength meant to force negotiations.
The rhetoric has shifted from pressure to direct threats
President Trump issued his warning via Truth Social, describing a large U.S. naval armada en route to the region. He said the fleet was massive, moving quickly, and carried significant power, adding that it was larger than a previous deployment sent toward Venezuela and led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, amid earlier economic ire that was stirred up in Florida’s 280,000 jobs vanishing overnight.
Trump emphasized that the force was ready to carry out its mission if required, stating it was prepared to act with speed and violence. He also referenced a prior military strike, telling Iran to make a deal and warning that another failure to do so would result in consequences far worse than before.
Iran’s response was swift. Araghchi said the country’s armed forces were prepared with their fingers on the trigger to respond immediately and powerfully to any aggression against Iranian land, air, or sea. He added that lessons learned from what he described as the 12-Day War had strengthened Iran’s ability to respond more rapidly and forcefully.
Despite the confrontational tone, Araghchi maintained that Iran remains open to diplomacy. He claimed Iran has never sought nuclear weapons and said they have no place in the country’s security calculations, while reiterating support for a fair and equitable nuclear deal free from threats and coercion that preserves Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology.
The Iranian mission to the United Nations echoed the warning in a separate statement on X, pointing to the financial and human costs of past U.S. conflicts. The mission cited wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as costing more than $7 trillion and resulting in over 7,000 American deaths, while asserting that Iran is open to dialogue but will defend itself if pushed.
Published: Jan 29, 2026 05:15 pm