In a bold response to former US President Donald Trump's threat of bombing Iran, Tehran has announced that it is readying its underground missile arsenal to strike “US-related positions” if necessary, state-controlled media Tehran Times reported on Monday.
The escalation follows Trump's recent statement that military action remains an option if Iran refuses to comply with a proposed nuclear deal. During an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump warned, "If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing. It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before."
According to Tehran Times, Iran has placed its missile systems in launch-ready mode within its extensive network of underground facilities. The Iranian leadership has remained defiant, rejecting any direct negotiations with the US while keeping the door open for indirect talks.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed this stance, stating that a response had been sent to Trump's letter regarding the nuclear deal. “Although the possibility of direct negotiations has been rejected, the path for indirect negotiations remains open,” Pezeshkian was quoted as saying by Politico.
Tensions between the two nations have surged since Trump’s return to office, with his administration insisting that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons. Trump had previously withdrawn the US from the 2015 nuclear agreement, which had been signed with Iran alongside China, Russia, France, Germany, Britain, and the European Union. He later accused Tehran of violating the deal’s terms.
