Iran's President Responds to Israeli and US Threats: "Our Response Will Be Harsh and Regrettable"

During a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Florida resort on Monday, US President Donald Trump addressed the possibility of striking Iran, making clear that if the Iranians continue developing missiles, he would support an immediate attack.

Sharp Response from Tehran

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded today to the explicit threats, writing on social media: "The Islamic Republic of Iran's response to any tyrannical aggression will be harsh and regrettable."

Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, responded to Trump's remarks by stating that "in Iran's defense doctrine, some responses are determined even before threats reach the implementation stage."

The senior adviser added that Iran's missile and defense capabilities are not subject to control and do not require approval. He concluded with a direct threat to the American president: "Any aggression will be met with a severe, immediate and unexpected response."

Trump's Explicit Warning

"I hear that Iran is trying to rearm, and if they try, we'll have to hit them. Hopefully not," Trump stated at the opening of his meeting with Netanyahu. "If they continue with the missile program - yes. If with the nuclear program - quickly. In the first option, yes. In the second option, we'll do it immediately."

However, the president left the door open for a deal: "But I hear that Iran wants to make a deal. If they want to, it's much smarter. Last time they could have made a deal, before we moved forward with the strike, and they decided not to do it - and they regret it."

The statements come against the backdrop of ongoing anti-government protests in Iran and continued regional tensions.