Iran has issued a fresh warning to the United States, saying any future military confrontation would trigger a stronger and more unpredictable response from Tehran. The statement comes amid rising tensions in the region and renewed rhetoric from both sides over military actions and nuclear concerns.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X that Tehran had learned critical military lessons from the recent conflict and would respond differently if hostilities resumed. He claimed Washington had privately acknowledged the loss of multiple aircraft worth billions of dollars during the confrontation.
Araghchi also repeated Iran’s claim that its military forces successfully shot down a U.S. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet for the first time, describing it as a major military achievement. The United States has not confirmed those claims.
“With lessons learned and knowledge we gained, return to war will feature many more surprises,” Araghchi wrote, signaling that Iran believes it has strengthened its strategic capabilities after the clashes.
Iranian officials have increasingly portrayed the recent military exchanges as proof of their preparedness against the United States and its regional allies. However, Washington has not publicly verified the scale of damage or aircraft losses alleged by Tehran.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei strongly rejected accusations made by United States Central Command regarding an alleged strike on a school in Minab. Baqaei described the American account as “baseless fabrication” and accused Washington of distorting facts surrounding the incident.
According to Iranian officials, a strike carried out on February 28 allegedly killed more than 170 schoolchildren and teachers at the Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school. Tehran called the attack a “grave violation of international humanitarian law” and demanded international accountability. The United States has not independently verified those casualty figures and maintains that its operations targeted military infrastructure connected to Iran’s missile activities.
In another development, U.S. media reported that American forces seized an oil tanker allegedly linked to Iran in the Indian Ocean. The vessel, identified as Sky View, had reportedly been sanctioned earlier this year for transporting Iranian crude oil from Kharg Island. Iranian authorities have not yet officially commented on the reported seizure.
At the same time, Donald Trump said there had been “positive progress” regarding Iran but warned that Tehran’s military infrastructure had been severely weakened. Trump also reiterated Washington’s longstanding position that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons.
“We will not allow Iran to have nuclear weapons,” Trump told reporters, adding that further military action could occur within days if tensions escalated again.
Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons and accuses the United States of fueling instability in the region through sanctions, military deployments, and pressure tactics. Analysts warn that the escalating rhetoric from both governments could further increase tensions across the Middle East and impact global energy markets.
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