A top Iranian commander said US military bases in the region would be in the crosshairs after any attack, upping Tehran's rhetoric against Washington after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb the country.
"The Americans have at least 10 bases with 50,000 troops in the region, meaning they are sitting in a glass room," said Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the commander of the Aerospace Division of the Revolutionary Guards.
"Someone in a glass house should not throw stones at anyone," he added.
Hajizadeh was given a "victory" military commendation by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei for his leadership of a direct missile attack on Israel last year and is a key military decision-maker.
US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned the United States would bomb Iran if Tehran fails to reach a deal over its nuclear program.
"If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing — and it will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before," he told NBC News.
His comments were more stark than previous ones giving Tehran and ultimatum to come to a deal or face a military intervention.
Iran denies seeking a nuclear weapon but the United Nations nuclear watchdog says it has enriched more uranium than any state lacking a bomb.
Khamenei promised on Monday to retaliate if Iran was attacked.
"The enmity from the US and Israel has always been there. They threaten to attack us, which we don’t think is very probable, but if they commit any mischief, they will surely receive a strong reciprocal blow," he said in a televised addressed.
Iran on Monday issued a formal complaint about Trump’s threat to the Swiss embassy in Tehran, which represents US interests in the country, and Iran's foreign ministry spokesman called it a "shocking affront" to the core principles of international peace.
Mowlavi Abdolhamid Ismaeelzahi, said, "In my opinion, direct negotiation is more effective," after leading the Eid al-Fitr prayers in Zahedan, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.
"Intermediaries cannot powerfully defend the country's interests and respond to the other side's doubts. Rather, the person with the pain and the problem can speak better and achieve a better result."
The Sunni leader, who has become famed for his fearless opposition to the government, made the comments on Monday following threats from US President Donald Trump to bomb Iran if it does not agree to a new nuclear deal.
He emphasized the importance of adapting policies to foster progress and better international relations, saying, "The success of all developed and developing countries and nations is the result of creating change, transformation, and innovation in laws and policies."
Abdolhamid's call for direct dialogue stands in contrast to the official stance of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who voiced his rejection of direct negotiations with the United States earlier in the day, although he indicated that indirect talks could continue.
Khamenei's position was underscored during his televised speech, where he also warned the US of a "strong blow" if it acted on Trump's bombing threat.
As Khamenei delivered his remarks, crowds present chanted, "Death to America."
Echoing Khamenei's stance, Friday prayer leaders across Iran, who serve as his representatives, have also condemned Trump's threats.
Mohammad Mehdi Hosseini Hamedani, Khamenei's representative and the Friday prayers leader of Karaj, said on Monday, "Our response to the heavy bombing threat is the repetition of the slogan 'Death to America.'"
President Masoud Pezeshkian has also rejected direct talks with Washington but left the door open for indirect negotiations.
“The response by the Supreme Leader to Trump’s letter was delivered to the US contact in Oman,” Pezeshkian said on Sunday.
“In that response, direct negotiations have been rejected, but regarding indirect talks, Iran has always been involved in such discussions, and the Supreme Leader has emphasized that indirect talks can still continue.”
Meanwhile, economic and political figures within Iran have warned that failure to engage with the US could deepen the country’s crisis.
Khamenei’s senior adviser Ali Larijani and leading economists in Tehran have urged policymakers to seek a resolution with Washington to ease sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.
Earlier this year, Trump reinstated his “maximum pressure” strategy against Iran. Trump's maximum pressure approach in his first term, which started in 2018, pummeled Iran's economy, causing a dramatic decline in oil exports and skyrocketing inflation.
