“Mr. Trump, the gambler. You started this war, but we will finish it,” said Khatam al-Anbiya Unified Operations Command spokesman Lt. Col. Ebrahim Zolfaghari in a video broadcast by media outlets. june 23, ’25
| Published June 23, 2025
Tensions between Iran and the United States surged this week after an Iranian military spokesman issued a chilling video warning to former President Donald Trump. In a rare address delivered in English, the spokesman accused Trump of starting a war and vowed that the “warriors of Islam” would end it with powerful, carefully planned operations. The statement comes amid escalating fallout from reported U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities—an operation Tehran sees as a provocation demanding a forceful response.
🇮🇷 Iranian Military Threat Intensifies
-
Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al‑Anbiya operations command (under the General Staff), released a video message addressing Trump directly. In English, he warned:
“Mr. Trump, the gambler. You started this war, but we will be the ones to end it.”
-
He stated that attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites by the U.S. and Israeli forces have broadened the “range of legitimate targets” for Iran—signaling Tehran now considers strategic U.S. assets viable in its response.
-
Zolfaghari emphasized that “warriors of Islam” are preparing “powerful and well‑planned operations” with “severe, regretful, and unpredictable consequences” for those he described as perpetrators.
-
State media supplemented this martial message by broadcasting maps of U.S. military bases across the Middle East—accompanied by a declaration “Mr. Trump, you started it, we will end it”.
🌍 Context: Escalation Around Iran’s Nuclear Sites
-
These threats come after the U.S. (under Trump’s authority) carried out precision airstrikes on at least three major underground Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—in an operation dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer”.
-
Iran has already responded with missile launches at Israel and threatened to target U.S. bases in the region, though past warnings suggested such retaliation would remain symbolic to minimize civilian harm.
Implications
🔥 1. Escalation of U.S.–Iran Hostilities
-
Iran’s rhetoric signals a direct personal challenge to Trump, increasing the risk of a tit-for-tat escalation.
-
By declaring “we will end it,” Iran is framing future attacks as justified countermeasures—not first strikes.
🎯 2. Expanded Target Scope
-
Iran’s announcement that more “legitimate targets” are now in play could put U.S. military bases, allies, or even commercial assets across the Middle East—and possibly beyond—at risk.
🧨 3. Terror Threats Against U.S. and Allies
-
The mention of “warriors of Islam” and unpredictable retaliation opens the door to asymmetric warfare: missile strikes, cyberattacks, or proxy militia activity, possibly even terrorism on Western soil.
💡 4. Psychological Warfare and Political Messaging
-
Iran is using public threats as strategic messaging—to appear strong to its domestic audience and deter further Western military action.
-
Naming Trump directly also inserts itself into U.S. political discourse, possibly to influence or polarize voters.
🛢 5. Economic and Global Security Risks
-
Tensions near key oil routes like the Strait of Hormuz could spike oil prices.
-
Regional instability may lead to higher defense spending, disrupted trade, or new military deployments.
💬 Overall Takeaway:
Iran’s latest threat against Donald Trump and U.S. interests marks a dangerous escalation in Middle East tensions. By expanding its list of “legitimate targets” and invoking Islamic warriors in a vow of vengeance, Iran is signaling readiness for broader, possibly asymmetric retaliation. While much of the rhetoric is strategic posturing, the possibility of real conflict—through direct strikes, proxy warfare, or cyberattacks—cannot be dismissed. With global energy markets and regional security hanging in the balance, both sides now face a precarious choice between deterrence and destruction.
