Iran vows to ‘rain down hell’ if US escalates war
Iran's Foreign Ministry has warned the US of 'dire consequences' if it escalates the conflict, following American strikes on Qeshm Island near the Strait of Hormuz.
The warning came after American strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island near the strait on Sunday night, with local officials reporting additional targeting of air defense and radar installations last week. Tehran's proposal remains on the table, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, urging Washington to choose diplomacy.
Or choose war, and see our alert and battle-hardened Warriors rain down hell.
Diplomatic conditions
Tehran's conditions include lifting the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, easing sanctions, releasing frozen assets, and ending hostilities on all fronts. Under the proposal, Washington would implement initial measures on the first day, followed by the reopening of the waterway on the second. Before the war, about a fifth of the world's oil passed through the strait.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed some demands as 'outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic.' Tehran's spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei described the offer as 'the most logical plan on the table,' saying it could restore security in the strait and the Persian Gulf.
Regional tensions
Iran insists on retaining sovereignty over the strait, requiring vessels to coordinate passage with its authorities—a demand Washington opposes. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused Israel of drawing the US into an endless war, warning that unless Washington drops the 'Israel First' mindset, America and its allies are headed for a dark age.
Israel has left open the prospect of further military action, with Defense Minister Israel Katz stating the mission against Iran was 'still not complete' and accusing Tehran of renewing efforts to obtain nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic maintains its nuclear program is peaceful.
Diplomatic efforts
US President Donald Trump met Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the White House on Monday for talks on Doha's mediation between Washington and Tehran. Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin reportedly said US Vice President J.D. Vance would meet Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei in Doha next week, though Iranian officials denied such plans until Washington meets Tehran's conditions.
Russia has also backed a diplomatic settlement, with President Vladimir Putin meeting Rezaei in Moscow on Thursday to discuss the conflict and regional security. The US and Israel launched their military campaign against Iran on February 28, triggering months of fighting that have disrupted global energy supplies and shipping.
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