Tehran, 09 July (H.S.): Tensions between Iran and the United States escalated further on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of renewed military action against Tehran. Reacting sharply to the remarks, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi described Trump as a "murderous criminal" and asserted that the U.S. President understands only the language of strength.

 

Speaking during the NATO Summit, Trump declared that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran had effectively come to an end. He also indicated that Washington was prepared to launch another major military operation against Iran if necessary.

 

"We struck them hard last night, and if required, we can strike again tonight," Trump said, signalling that further military action remained an option.

 

Responding to the statement, Gharibabadi wrote on the social media platform X that Trump's remarks reflected not America's strength but the failure of its long-standing policy of pressure, sanctions and threats against Iran.

 

He said, "The criminal and murderous Trump must be spoken to in the only language he understands—the language of strength."

 

Separately, following Trump's warning that the United States could target Iran's key oil export hub on Kharg Island, former Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati said Iran was fully prepared to respond. He warned that, if necessary, Tehran would take action to eliminate its enemies from the region.

 

Meanwhile, Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, issued a strongly worded message on social media, stating, "We are waiting for you. We promise that not a single American soldier will return alive."

 

Iran also strongly criticised Trump's announcement that the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding had been terminated. A senior Iranian official described the declaration as "disgraceful," saying it came at a time when diplomatic efforts between the two countries had already been severely weakened by escalating regional tensions.

 

During his address at the NATO Summit, Trump also launched a sharp attack on Iran's leadership, describing its leaders as "bad and sick people." He argued that engaging in negotiations with such leadership was a waste of time and maintained that the agreement between Washington and Tehran no longer held any significance.