Iran warns of 'destructive' response if U.S. launches new war

Any new U.S. military action would immediately trigger a "destructive" response far larger than before, Iranian Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia warned on Sunday.

Akraminia said that Iran is fully prepared to respond to the United States, and that, if further conflict breaks out, Iran will decide when it ends. He said any new U.S. "adventurous action" could make U.S. facilities, equipment, troops and related interests within Iran's strike range targets for retaliation.

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Ali Abdollahi said on Saturday that the country's armed forces have compiled a new list of the "enemy's" targets and assets across a wider geography.

In a message carried by Iranian media, Abdollahi warned the United States and Israel that if they repeat the "aggression" against the country and its people, they will face a "new approach as well as an unimaginable and more severe and effective response" compared to the 40-day war.

"Iran's armed forces have placed on their agenda a new bank of the enemies' targets and assets spanning a geography wider than before and will face the adversaries with new surprises on the battlefield," he said.

Abdollahi stressed that the armed forces will definitely continue to strengthen their readiness day by day, noting that Iran will be the party to determine when the new war ends.

The remarks came after it was announced in a statement earlier in the day that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had ordered senior commanders of the country's armed forces to ensure that any level and kind of threat from the "enemies" must be met with an "immediate and effective" response without geographical limitations.

Warnings by Iranian officials came amid heightened U.S. threats of military action against Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump told the press at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday that the U.S. had destroyed most of Iran's military power but still needs to handle one or two targets, including the Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified site near Iran's Natanz enrichment facility.

The Pickaxe Mountain facility is located in Iran's central Isfahan province and is considered one of Iran's most heavily fortified underground nuclear sites. Trump has repeatedly threatened to strike the facility. However, Iran has said that the facility is empty and that any U.S. attack on it is doomed to fail.

Iran warns of 'destructive' response if U.S. launches new war

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday the outcome of the ongoing Qatar-mediated consultations hinges on Washington's responses to questions raised by Iran.

Araghchi said an Iranian delegation had traveled to Qatar on Saturday for further discussions, adding that his aide was there to continue consultations with mediators.

The two-day talks remained underway, with no final conclusion reached. Araghchi expressed hope that the United States would rationally opt for diplomacy over other approaches.

An official briefed on the negotiations told the media that Qatar had maintained contact with the White House during the talks. The day before, Qatari mediators held more than 12 hours of talks with Iranian counterparts in Tehran, aiming to clinch a U.S.-Iran agreement to avert renewed conflict after the U.S. midterm elections.

In an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday, Araghchi dismissed reports of possible meetings as media speculation, saying Iran saw no need to meet with American officials at present. He said Tehran would decide whether to hold direct or indirect negotiations after Washington accepted Iran's conditions.

According to Araghchi, Iran's conditions include recognition of a new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz that Tehran had worked out with Oman, and the closure of other routes.

He said Tehran also sought the lifting of sanctions imposed after the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a reduction in U.S. military forces in the region, the restoration of sanctions waivers for Iranian oil exports, and the release of all frozen Iranian funds, including those held in Qatar.

Iran also demanded an end to hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, he said.

Araghchi said mediators had presented proposals concerning Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran was reviewing as part of what he described as a second phase.

The Iranian foreign minister also said a letter from U.S. Vice President JD Vance had been reviewed at high-level meetings, describing the American effort to open the door to broader dialogue and understanding as a "positive step."

Iran says outcome of Qatar-mediated talks hinges on US response