Iran warns of 'devastating' response if attacked again

(Patria) - Senior Iranian military officials yesterday threatened a sharp response to any future attacks on Iranian interests, while criticizing statements by US President Donald Trump.

Brigadier General Ramezan Sharif, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), called Trump's recent statements "nonsense," saying they were "the result of a heavy defeat by Iran".

"If Iranian national interests and assets are attacked again, our response this time will be different, more devastating and destructive, and could accelerate the collapse of the American regime," Sharif warned in a statement carried by Iran's Fars news agency.

"If there is even the slightest attack on any Shia religious authority, whether successful or not, no American agent will leave this region alive.

All American diplomats, military personnel, and employees in the region will be killed or captured," warned Mohammad Reza Naqdi, deputy commander for coordination in the Guard Corps.

These comments came after Trump sharply criticized Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday, warning that he would consider bombing the country again if Tehran continued to enrich uranium.

On June 22, the US dropped six bunker-buster bombs on the Fordow nuclear facility and launched dozens of cruise missile attacks on locations in Natanz and Isfahan as part of a campaign against Iran's nuclear program.

Thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran yesterday to attend a funeral procession for those killed during recent Israeli airstrikes, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.

The conflict between Israel and Iran erupted on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian military, nuclear, and civilian sites, killing at least 606 people and injuring 5,332, according to the Iranian Ministry of Health.

Tehran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israel, killing at least 29 people and injuring more than 3,400, according to data released by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The conflict was halted by a US-sponsored ceasefire that took effect on June 24.