US and Israeli leaders threaten renewed strikes on Iran as Tehran warns of response

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated threats against Iran, and Tehran warned of retaliation even as diplomatic efforts continued over the Strait of Hormuz and the wider conflict.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that the United States could “soon finish the job” against Iran unless Tehran changed course. He wrote that Iran had been “systematically destroyed, both militarily and financially.” Trump also gave Netanyahu his “complete and total endorsement” ahead of Israel’s October 27 election, and suggested that with the “wrong Leader” in Israel, “America will have to do this work ourselves.”

In a briefing with Israeli journalists on Sunday, Netanyahu said bringing down the Islamic Republic remained a key Israeli objective and that he had directed the country’s security agencies to pursue it. He said 90% of the work required to defeat Israel’s enemies had been completed, and he pointed to Iran’s economic crisis and protests as signs of what he described as the government’s weakness. “We must bring this regime down once and for all,” Netanyahu said, adding that Israel was prepared to act independently of Washington if necessary.

Responding later to Trump’s endorsement, Netanyahu said: “Together we will complete the mission!”

Iranian officials answered with a series of warnings against renewed US or Israeli military action. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi challenged Trump’s “finish the job” language, saying Iran had emerged stronger from the previous confrontation. On X, he wrote: “Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too.” He also accused Netanyahu of seeking to draw the United States into another war to advance his own political interests.

Iran’s parliament approved Mehrdad Akhlaghi Ketabchi as defense minister on Sunday, placing a veteran of the country’s missile and aerospace industries in charge of its defense apparatus. Akhlaghi warned Trump against another US attack and said Washington should instead focus on getting its forces out of the region safely. Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ali Abdollahi said another attack would draw a response “different from, and more severe than before,” while an IRGC spokesman threatened a devastating response against Israel if Iran’s energy infrastructure were targeted.

Despite the escalating rhetoric, Tehran said its proposal for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restarting negotiations with Washington remained available. Araghchi said Iran’s seven-day proposal, first presented in September, remained on the table as Tehran reviewed Washington’s response. Under the plan, the strait would reopen on the sixth day and negotiations would begin on the seventh if Washington accepted Iran’s conditions. Keeping a channel for talks open is a practical form of peacemaking (Romans 12:18).

Iran’s conditions include lifting the US blockade on its ports, removing sanctions on oil exports and ending hostilities across regional fronts.

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