Iran challenges Trump: 'Our response will not be proportional'

US President Donald Trump announced on his social media account today that a massive naval force is en route to Iran, issuing a direct warning to the Tehran administration. Trump stated that a fleet, much larger than the military force previously sent to Venezuela and led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, is advancing toward the region.

Following Trump's statements, a response from Iranian officials was not long in coming.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Tehran prioritizes full readiness to defend the country over negotiations with the US at this stage, saying, 'If the Americans want negotiations with a predetermined outcome, Iran will accept it, but the US cannot force us into negotiations through military deployment.'

According to the semi-official Tasnim News Agency, Gharibabadi reported in his statement on the matter that there is currently no official negotiation process between Iran and the US, but that indirect exchanges of messages are continuing.

'OUR RESPONSE WILL NOT BE PROPORTIONAL'

Touching upon the possibility of a limited US attack, Gharibabadi said, 'We will target every base or point from which an attack is launched against us. Military intervention is not an easy option for the US because they know that Iran's response will not be merely proportional.'

Our response is designed in such a way that they will not even think about carrying out limited attacks again,' he assessed.

Stating that Iran would not lower its level of readiness for a possible war even if a negotiation process with the US were to begin, Gharibabadi said, 'Given the enemy's war posture, negotiations are not a priority for us; Iran's priority is to be 200 percent ready to defend the country.'

News Source: 12punto