On Monday, Iran stated that the U.S. assault on its nuclear facilities broadened the scope of acceptable targets for its military and referred to U.S. President Donald Trump as a "gambler" for participating in Israel's military action against the Islamic Republic. Following Trump's involvement in Israel's campaign by deploying large bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday morning, Iran has made numerous threats to respond.
While it has continued to launch missiles at Israel, it hasn't yet targeted the United States, either by attacking U.S. bases or aiming at the 20% of global oil shipments that pass near its coast at the Gulf's entrance. "Mr. Trump, the gambler, you may initiate this war, but we will be the ones to conclude it," said Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, on Monday in English at the end of a recorded video message. Iran and Israel exchanged another round of air and missile strikes on Monday as the world awaited Tehran's reaction. Trump's administration has consistently stated that its goal is solely to eliminate Iran's nuclear program, not to escalate into a broader conflict. However, in a social media post on Sunday, Trump openly suggested toppling the hardline clerical leaders who have been Washington's main adversaries in the Middle East since the 1979 Iranian revolution.
"It's not considered politically correct to say 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime can't MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!" he stated.
Experts analyzing commercial satellite images indicated that the U.S. attack significantly harmed the site of Iran's Fordow nuclear facility, which is located inside a mountain, possibly destroying it and the uranium-enriching centrifuges within it, though there was no independent verification.
Trump referred to the strike as a "Bullseye!!!"
"Monumental Damage was inflicted on all Nuclear sites in Iran," he wrote. "The most substantial damage happened deep underground."
ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES ESCALATE
Israel's airstrikes on Iran have faced minimal resistance from Iranian defenses since the surprise attack on June 13, which resulted in the deaths of many top Iranian commanders. On Monday, the Israeli military reported that around 20 jets executed a series of strikes against military sites in western Iran and Tehran overnight. In Kermanshah, missile and radar facilities were targeted, while a surface-to-air missile launcher was hit in Tehran. Iranian news outlets indicated that air defenses were activated in central Tehran, and Israeli strikes impacted Parchin, where a military complex is located southeast of the capital. Iran claims that over 400 individuals have died from the Israeli attacks, mostly civilians, but has shared few images of the destruction since the early bombing days. Tehran, a city of 10 million, has mostly emptied as residents have fled to rural areas to avoid the strikes. Iran's retaliatory missile attacks on Israel have resulted in 24 civilian deaths and numerous injuries, marking the first time a significant number of Iranian missiles have breached Israeli defenses. The Israeli military stated that a missile launched from Iran early Monday was intercepted by its defenses. Air raid sirens sounded overnight in Tel Aviv and other central Israeli regions.
LIMITED RETALIATION
Iran's capability for retaliation is much more restricted now compared to a few months ago, following Israel's defeat of Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran's most feared regional proxy. This defeat was quickly followed by the collapse of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, Iran’s most powerful ally.
To impact the West, Iran's most effective move would likely be to limit oil shipments from the Gulf. Oil prices surged on Monday to their highest levels since January, but they have not yet reached crisis heights, suggesting traders believe a serious disruption can be avoided.
As of 0830 GMT, Brent crude futures fell 0.5% to $76.64 a barrel after briefly rising above $80 at the start.
Iran's parliament has greenlighted a proposal to close the Strait of Hormuz leading into the Gulf, which needs the Supreme National Security Council's approval, a group led by a Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appointee.
If they attempt to blockade the strait, it could drastically increase global oil prices, hurt the world economy, and provoke conflict with the U.S. Navy's significant Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain.
"It's economic suicide for them if they do it. And we have options to address that," said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
As Tehran considered its choices, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. While the Kremlin maintains a strategic alliance with Iran, it also shares close ties with Israel.
During remarks in Istanbul on Sunday, Araqchi stated that Iran would look at all potential responses and would not return to diplomacy until it retaliated. TASS news agency later reported that Iran and Russia were aligning their positions.
