Iran warned on Monday that its armed forces were prepared to “teach a lesson” to any aggressor after US President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s latest counter-proposal aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire in the Middle East.The heated exchange heightened tensions in the region and shook global energy markets already tense due to turmoil in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.Speaking to reporters in Washington, Trump said the ceasefire was on “large-scale life support” after he rejected Iran’s response to the US-backed proposal, calling it “completely unacceptable.”“The ceasefire is based on massive life support, where the doctor comes in and says, ‘Sir, your loved ones have about a one percent chance of living,’” Trump said.In response to Trump’s statements, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said that Tehran is fully prepared for any confrontation.“Our armed forces are ready to respond and teach a lesson to any aggression. Bad strategy and bad decisions always lead to bad results – and the world already understands this,” Ghalibaf wrote on X.The Iranian Foreign Ministry said Tehran’s proposal calls for an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and a halt to military operations “throughout the region,” including Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The ministry also called for the release of Iranian assets that have been frozen abroad for years under the sanctions.Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said, “We did not demand any concessions. The only thing we demanded was Iran’s legitimate rights.”The standoff has heightened concerns about the future of the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran has tightened restrictions on maritime traffic and introduced toll mechanisms for ship passage.
US officials have repeatedly warned that allowing Tehran to control the strategic waterway would be “unacceptable.”The crisis has also fueled fears of broader humanitarian and economic repercussions. Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said the current outage represents the “biggest” shock to energy supplies the world has ever seen.Meanwhile, the United Nations has warned that prolonged unrest could lead to severe food shortages globally due to reduced fertilizer exports from Gulf ports.
Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, Jorge Moreira da Silva, said the world only has a few weeks left to avoid a “massive humanitarian crisis.”“We may witness a crisis that will force another 45 million people into hunger and starvation,” he said.The conflict also renewed concerns about Iran’s nuclear program. The United States and Israel have long accused Tehran of seeking nuclear weapons, something Iran denies. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that military operations will continue until the Iranian nuclear facilities are destroyed.
