Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi issued a sharp warning to the United States following American military strikes on Iranian targets, declaring that Tehran would not leave any attack unanswered
and urging US forces to leave the region if they wanted to remain safe. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Araghchi accused Washington of escalating the confrontation despite what he described as setbacks on the battlefield and said Iran’s armed forces were prepared to retaliate.
“Despite its defeats on the battlefield, the US opted to test our determination,” Araghchi wrote, asserting, “Our Powerful Armed Forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered.”
The statement comes after the United States launched military strikes that US President Donald Trump said were retaliation for the downing of a Army Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz.
Araghchi also warned foreign military forces operating in the region that their presence carried significant risks.
“Leave our region if you want to be safe,” he said.
The foreign minister further invoked history in an apparent message to Washington, adding, “History of the Persian Gulf has many chapters on dire fates of intruding outsiders.”
The comments came after US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces had begun what it described as “self-defense strikes” against Iran at President Trump’s direction.
Trump defended the military action, arguing that it was a necessary response to what he says was Iran’s role in bringing down an American Apache helicopter during a patrol mission near the Strait of Hormuz. He said, “I think it’s very important to respond. They shot down a helicopter, and we are responding as we speak.” The president added that the US response should be “very strong” and “very powerful.”
Iranian state media reported multiple explosions and projectile impacts at locations including Qeshm, Jask, Sirik and Kuh-e Mobarakeh following the start of the US operation.
