Tehran, September 23: Iran’s Armed Forces have described US President Donald Trump’s threat to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic as propaganda and warned that Tehran is prepared to respond to any further military action.
In a statement issued by the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces and the Khatam al-Anbya Central Headquarters, Iran said Trump’s remarks were aimed at domestic political purposes and did not reflect the situation on the ground. The statement said the repeated threats indicated the United States’ difficulties in its military campaign against Iran.
Iran’s military command said its forces remained prepared to respond to any attack and warned of further action against what it described as aggressors.
The statement also said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian would present Tehran’s position at the United Nations General Assembly and convey Iran’s message on the ongoing conflict.
Pezeshkian arrived in New York on Tuesday to attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. Before leaving Tehran, he said Iran would present its position at international forums and raise issues concerning the conflict, previous negotiations and agreements that Tehran says were not honoured.
Trump, in his UN General Assembly address on Tuesday, said the United States faced a choice between reaching an agreement with Iran and taking further military action. He said he could “annihilate the Islamic Republic” if no deal was reached to end the conflict.
At the same time, diplomatic efforts continued in New York, with US and Iranian representatives holding discussions through mediators on a possible agreement to end the conflict.