Tehran ready to retaliate if US strikes again, says Iran foreign minister

Tehran has confirmed that its missile strike on a US air base in Qatar was a direct response to what it calls “US aggression against Iran’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

In a statement posted on Telegram, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the action was a measured retaliation following American military involvement in recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. He said Iran would be ready to respond again in case of further action by the US.

Iran gave advance notice to the US via diplomatic channels hours ahead of the attack, as well as to Qatari authorities. Trump seized on that as a positive sign.

“I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social media site. “Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same.”

He said Iran fired 14 missiles at the air base, calling it “a very weak response, which we expected, and have very effectively countered.”

“I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed and hardly any damage was done,” Trump wrote. “Most importantly, they’ve gotten it all out of their ‘system,’ and there will, hopefully, be no further HATE,” Trump wrote.

QATAR SAYS RESPONSE TO IRAN ATTACK IS A ‘SOVEREIGN’ ISSUE

Meanwhile, Qatar said that its response to the Iranian attack on Al Udeid US airbase in the Gulf country is a “sovereign” issue.

“There are deep ties between the two states (Iran and Qatar)and the two nations, but the attack undoubtedly calls for a genuine meeting and a clear stance,” foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al Ansari said in a press conference.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also issued a statement defending the strikes on US bases. He posted an image of a burning American flag on a pole, set against a backdrop of a war-torn area with burning buildings and a dark, smoky sky, along with the caption: “We didn’t harm anyone. And we will not accept any harassment from anyone under any circumstances. And we will not submit to anyone’s harassment. This is the logic of the Iranian nation.”

– Ends