Iran vows stronger response if attacked again by US, Israel

Iran vows stronger response if attacked again by US, Israel
by AFP Staff Writers
Tehran (AFP) July 28, 2025

Iran's foreign minister warned on Monday that it would respond to the United States and Israel in a "more decisive manner" should they attack Iran again.

The comments appeared to be in response to remarks by US President Donald Trump, who had threatened earlier in the day to "wipe out" the Islamic republic's nuclear programme if it resumed atomic activities following a round of US strikes last month.

"If aggression is repeated, we will not hesitate to react in a more decisive manner and in a way that will be IMPOSSIBLE to cover up," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.

"If there are concerns about the possible diversion of our nuclear program into non-peaceful purposes, the 'military option' proved incapable -- but a negotiated solution may work," he added.

It remains unclear how much damage was caused by the US strikes on Tehran's nuclear facilities, which came after Israel launched a surprise bombing campaign that it said was aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining an atomic weapon.

Israel's attacks had derailed US-Iran nuclear negotiations that began in April.

Over the course of the 12-day war, Iran responded with missile attacks on Israeli cities, as well as one on a nearby US base in Qatar -- a response Trump had previously shrugged off.

During a visit to Scotland on Monday, Trump maintained the previous strikes on Iran "wiped out their nuclear possibilities".

"They can start again. If they do, we'll wipe it out faster than you can wave your finger at it," he added.

Before the war broke out, the United States and Iran were divided over uranium enrichment -- with Tehran describing it as a "non-negotiable" right, and Washington calling it a "red line".

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country currently enriching uranium to 60 percent -- a short step from the 90-percent enrichment required for a nuclear weapon.

Tehran, which has consistently denied pursuing a bomb, has said it is open to discussing the rate and level of enrichment, but not the right to enrichment itself.

In his post, Araghchi said: "No one in their right mind would abandon the fruits of tremendous investment in homegrown and peaceful technology" just because of foreign bullying.

Iran rejects talks with West on 'defence capabilities'
Tehran (AFP) July 28, 2025 - Iran said on Monday that its military capabilities were not up for negotiations, after France called for a "comprehensive deal" with Tehran that covers its missile programme and regional influence.

"Regarding matters related to our defence capabilities, there will absolutely be no discussion," foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a regular press briefing.

Iran generally refers to all military activities, including its ballistic missile programme, as defensive.

On Sunday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told CBS News show "Face The Nation" that Western governments were seeking a "comprehensive agreement" with Iran, in part to avert the "risk" that it could covertly pursue a nuclear weapon -- an ambition Tehran has consistently denied.

Barrot said such agreement would include "the nuclear dimension" as well as the "ballistic component" and "the regional destabilisation activities that Iran has been conducting", referring to armed groups backed by Tehran across the Middle East.

His remarks followed a meeting on Friday between Iranian diplomats and counterparts from France, Germany, and Britain -- the first nuclear talks since Israeli strikes targeting the Islamic republic's atomic activities last month spiralled into a 12-day war.

Friday's talks in Istanbul came as the three European powers, known as the E3, have in recent weeks threatened to trigger a so-called "snapback mechanism" under a moribund 2015 nuclear deal which would reinstate UN sanctions on Iran.

"Unless a new and robust and durable and verifiable agreement is reached by the end of the summer, France, Germany and the UK will have no other choice but to reapply the global embargo that were lifted 10 years ago," said Barrot.

Iran has previously warned that Tehran could withdraw from the global nuclear non-proliferation treaty if sanctions were reimposed.

Baqaei on Monday said: "One cannot expect a country to remain in the treaty while being deprived of its stated rights, particularly the peaceful use of nuclear energy."

Israel's attacks on Iran last month hit key nuclear and military sites but also residential areas, and killed top commanders, nuclear scientists and hundreds others. The United States briefly joined the war, striking key nuclear sites.

The fighting had derailed US-Iran nuclear negotiations that began in April, and prompted Iran to limit cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog.

Baqaei said the Istanbul meeting with the European powers focused solely on "the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions".

Raising any other "unrelated topics... is merely a sign of confusion on the part of the other side", the spokesman said.

He added that Iranian had emerged from the war with its staunch rival Israel "even more determined... to safeguard all their assets, including their means of defence against foreign aggression and hostility".