TEHRAN – A senior Iranian military official has issued a direct and fiery warning to former US President Donald Trump, holding him responsible for escalating the conflict in the Middle East and vowing that Iran will bring the confrontation to a decisive end.
In a televised statement, Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Military Headquarters, referred to Trump as a “gambler” and declared, “Mr. Trump, you may have started this war, but we will be the ones to end it.”
The remarks come in the aftermath of recent US airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites, carried out in coordination with Israeli military operations. While Iran has launched retaliatory drone and missile attacks against Israeli targets, it has thus far refrained from striking American military installations or directly disrupting regional trade routes.
Zolfaqari warned that the American attacks had widened the scope of legitimate Iranian targets and signaled that Iran would respond “with powerful operations and heavy consequences.” He added that any future action would be carefully calculated and executed “on Iran’s own terms and at a time of its choosing.”
Observers believe Iran’s strategy is aimed at maintaining a posture of deterrence without provoking a direct military conflict with the United States. Tehran’s leadership has repeatedly accused Washington of destabilizing the region by supporting Israeli strikes and ignoring the humanitarian consequences in Gaza.
The sharply worded statement from the Iranian military comes amid growing fears of a broader regional war. The international community, including the United Nations and key European powers, has called for restraint and urged both sides to pursue diplomatic avenues.
Tensions between Tehran and Washington have escalated significantly since the recent military exchanges, with both nations accusing each other of aggression. Former President Trump, who is once again a central figure in the US political landscape, has reportedly taken a hardline stance, vowing not to back down amid the unfolding crisis.
Reported by PakTribune News Desk
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