What Is Iran’s Reaction After the US Strikes?

Hours after the Donald Trump-led US military forces dropped bunker-buster bombs on Iran’s three major nuclear sites – Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan – the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed strong retaliatory action. Khamenei warned that America should brace for “Americans should expect greater damage and blows than ever before.” Khamenei also vowed to strike the US naval fleet in Bahrain. “Our turn to act without delay,” said the supreme leader.

However, Trump promptly countered Khamenei’s threat with a “far greater” force in retaliation if Iran chooses to retaliate back. Taking to Truth Social, Trump announced that any Iranian counterattack would provoke overwhelming military action from the US.

Trump also emphasized that Iran must choose peace and end its military advances or face far more severe strikes. Trump described the US’ attacks as a response to decades of hostility and Iran’s 40-year history of aggression against the US and its allies. The President also called Iran ‘the bully of the Middle East.’

Following Khamenei’s address, Iran’s state television further escalated tensions between the two nations, declaring that every US citizen and military personnel in West Asia is now a potential target of Iran. Accusing the US of violating Iranian airspace, the broadcaster further warned, saying, “Mr. President of the United States, you started it, and we will end it,” reiterating a major retaliation against American actions.

Meanwhile, reports are coming in that, amid threats of his assassination, Khamenei named three successors from the bunker, excluding his son Mojtaba. The Iran-Israel conflict started a week ago when Israel launched airstrikes against Iranian nuclear and military sites, significantly targeting Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities to stop Iran from manufacturing nuclear weapons.