'Will Defend, Retaliate Like Never Before': Iran Reacts To Trump's Threat

Last Updated:January 28, 2026, 21:21 IST

Iran's mission to the UN warns of unprecedented defense if provoked, responding to US President Donald Trump's threats over nuclear talks and escalating tensions.

Amir-Saeid Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative to the United Nations. (AP File)

Iran’s mission to the United Nations on Wednesday said they remain committed to continue dialogue “based on mutual respect" but warned that “if pushed" it will “defend and respond like never before".

“Last time the U.S. blundered into wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, it squandered over $7 trillion and lost more than 7,000 American lives," Iran said in a post on X.

It further said: “Iran stands ready for dialogue based on mutual respect and interests—but if pushed, it will defend itself and respond like never before."

This comes in response to US President Donald Trump’s warning to Iran earlier in the day that the next attack on the country would be “far worse" if it did not negotiate a deal to abandon nuclear weapons.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said a massive US naval armada, led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, was heading to the region and was “ready, willing, and able to rapidly fulfill its mission, with speed and violence, if necessary."

Trump told Tehran to “come to the table" for a fair and equitable agreement on nuclear weapons, saying that time was “truly of the essence."

Also Read: ‘Next Attack Will Be Far Worse’: Trump Asks Iran To Negotiate ‘No Nuclear Weapons’ Deal

“Hopefully Iran will quickly “Come to the Table" and negotiate a fair and equitable deal – NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS – one that is good for all parties. Time is running out, it is truly of the essence!," he wrote.

The US President also referenced a previous US strike, dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer," and warned Iran not to repeat past mistakes.

“The next attack will be far worse! Don’t make that happen again," Trump warned.

The warning comes after Iran, earlier, rejected the call for talks, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating that “conducting diplomacy through military threat cannot be effective or useful." He added that Iran had not sought negotiations and that threats and excessive demands would not produce dialogue.

Tensions between the US and Iran have escalated amid ongoing unrest in Iran, where protests over the government’s crackdown have left thousands dead.

News world 'Will Defend, Respond Like Never Before': Iran Reacts To Trump's Threat

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