Iran Warns U.S. After Nuclear Strikes, Calls Trump a ‘Gambler’
Iran declared on Monday that the recent U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities had expanded the range of legitimate military targets for its armed forces, issuing a stern warning to Washington and branding President Donald Trump a “gambler” for joining Israel’s military campaign.
Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command, cautioned that the U.S. would face serious consequences for its actions.
“Mr. Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it,” Zolfaqari said in English at the close of a recorded video message.
The warning came as Iran and Israel exchanged air and missile attacks, and global markets watched anxiously for Tehran’s next move after the U.S. bombing of three nuclear sites over the weekend. Trump had suggested the strikes could contribute to regime change in Tehran.
Commercial satellite imagery from the attack on Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility showed what experts believe to be severe damage to the site and its uranium centrifuges, though the full extent remains unverified.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed:
“Monumental Damage was done to all nuclear sites in Iran. The biggest damage was deep underground. Bullseye!!!”
He had earlier urged Iran not to retaliate, warning that any further response could provoke even more devastating U.S. action, raising fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East.
According to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the U.S. deployed 75 precision-guided munitions, including bunker-buster bombs and over two dozen Tomahawk missiles, targeting three key nuclear facilities.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported no increase in radiation levels at the sites, though Director General Rafael Grossi told CNN that the agency had not yet been able to assess potential underground damage.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that most of the highly enriched uranium at Fordow had been relocated before the strike, though this claim remains unverified.
In response to the U.S. action, Iran fired a wave of missiles at Israel, injuring dozens and causing significant damage in Tel Aviv. However, Tehran has not yet acted on its heaviest retaliation options, such as targeting U.S. bases or attempting to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route responsible for about 20% of global crude trade.
Any attempt to close the strait, which would drastically limit oil exports and draw the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet into action, could severely disrupt global energy markets and economies.
Reflecting growing fears, oil prices surged Monday to their highest levels since January. As of 0653 GMT:
- Brent crude rose $1.11 (1.44%) to $78.12 per barrel
- WTI crude gained $1.08 (1.45%) to $74.87 per barrel
