US President Donald Trump has warned that US forces are “locked and loaded” and ready to strike if necessary.
Published on November 8, 2026
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran would “rain hell” if the United States resumed its attacks, giving Washington an ultimatum to try to end the eight-month war between the two countries.
“Our proposal in two days stands: meet the demands, including an end to the war on all fronts, and you will see results,” Araghchi wrote in a message on X Sunday.
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“Or choose war and watch our alert and battle-hardened warriors rain down on hell,” he said.
US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that further strikes against Iran were “highly unlikely” if negotiations progress on Tehran’s nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Locked and Loaded”
“It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement,” Trump said, when asked about the continuation of American strikes against Iran, during a telephone interview reported by CNN. “I would continue if necessary, but we hit them very hard,” he added.
Trump warned that U.S. forces have three aircraft carriers stationed in the region “fully locked and loaded,” ready to continue strikes if necessary. He also said the United States has 38 bridges in Iran’s line of sight that American forces “can demolish in literally an hour.”
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also quoted Araghchi in an earlier statement on Sunday as saying Iran “would not be lenient with US targets” in the region.
Araghchi’s statements followed reports by state media that an oil tanker caught fire earlier in the morning after hitting a naval mine east of the Strait of Hormuz, citing the Iranian Navy.
The navy said the ship’s identification systems were turned off and it was traveling in the prohibited zone of the strait.
“Devastating and severe” response
An adviser to Iran’s commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aerospace force made threats that echoed those of Iran’s foreign minister and said the weapons were “secure for years to come.”
“The armed forces are ready, and if the enemy makes a mistake, Iran’s response will be devastating and severe,” IRGC Brigadier General Ali Belali warned in a statement on Telegram.
“As highlighted by senior commanders of the armed forces, we have improved our capabilities during the post-Ramadan War period,” Belali said.
Tensions between Iranian and US leaders come following the US midterm elections in which the Democratic Party won control of both houses of Congress, handily defeating Trump’s Republican Party.
Araghchi said negotiations had been delayed due to the elections, but he is waiting for a path forward, Iranian state media reported.
“It will take some time for things to stabilize and for the atmosphere to become conducive to the resumption of mediator visits,” the foreign minister said. “We have to wait.”
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