IRAN'S top diplomat warned the United States on Wednesday that no attack or threat would go unanswered, as the country's armed forces have reached their highest level of combat readiness in response to a new round of U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post published on social media platform X, "our powerful armed forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered. Leave our region if you want to be safe."
The warning came after the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Tuesday that U.S. forces had launched "defensive" strikes against Iran at the direction of U.S. President Donald Trump, in response to the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter the previous day. A U.S. official said the strikes targeted multiple Iranian air defense and radar systems around the Strait of Hormuz.
The strikes started at 17:00 U.S. Eastern Time (2100 GMT), CENTCOM wrote on X. Later Wednesday, CENTCOM announced it had concluded the strikes, bringing the operation to an end.
On Tuesday, Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said that Iran's armed forces had reached their highest level of combat and defensive readiness, with damage already repaired.
He added that Iranian forces were fully prepared to respond to any aggression at the highest level.
Iran's Ministry of Defense also issued a statement Tuesday, vowing to increase the production of military equipment, weapons and systems to safeguard the country's security, independence and territorial integrity. The ministry said it would continue to enhance deterrence and strengthen defense capabilities, and would not allow any enemy to cause even the slightest damage to Iran's security.
Early Wednesday, explosions were reported in southern Iran's Hormozgan Province, including the port city of Sirik, the city of Minab.
On the same day, an Iraqi militia-affiliated group reported that Iranian drones had flown over Iraqi airspace and struck U.S. targets.
Separately, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said Tuesday that the Israeli military remains ready to resume operations against Iran at any time, adding that all Israeli defense and offensive systems are on alert.
