Iran Vows 'Crushing Response' as World Reacts to US Airstrikes

TEHRAN – Iran has vehemently condemned the American airstrikes on its nuclear facilities, with top officials promising a 'crushing and regrettable response' to what they termed 'a clear act of war' by the United States. The strikes, confirmed by US President Donald Trump, have plunged the Middle East into a new and perilous phase of a conflict that now threatens to spiral into a direct confrontation between Tehran and Washington. Iranian state-run media broadcast images of emergency services responding to explosions near the cities of Qom and Isfahan. While access to the targeted sites is restricted, officials have acknowledged that the country's nuclear infrastructure was attacked. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency, said, 'The cowardly and barbaric aggression by the American regime will not go unanswered. The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its legitimate right under international law to defend its sovereignty and its people.' Iran's Supreme National Security Council has reportedly convened an emergency meeting, chaired by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to determine the nature and timing of its retaliation. The options available to Tehran are varied and carry different levels of risk. They range from direct ballistic missile attacks on US military bases in Iraq, the UAE, or Qatar, to activating its network of proxy forces across the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shia militias in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthis in Yemen, to strike American and Israeli interests. The international reaction to the US strikes has been one of widespread alarm. Russia and China, both of whom have close ties with Iran, have strongly condemned the American action. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the strikes a 'flagrant violation of international law' that could lead to 'the most severe consequences for regional and global security.' A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson urged 'all parties to exercise calm and restraint to prevent a further escalation of tensions.' Key US allies in Europe have expressed grave concern. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held an emergency call and later issued a joint statement calling for 'an immediate de-escalation' and a return to diplomatic efforts. The United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary urged all sides to 'step back from the brink.' In the Middle East, reactions have been sharply divided. Israel has enthusiastically supported the US strikes, with defense officials stating that they are in 'full coordination' with their American counterparts. Conversely, countries like Iraq and Syria, which have been caught in the crossfire of US-Iran tensions before, have expressed fears of their territories once again becoming a battleground. The economic implications are also severe. Global oil prices have already surged on the news, with Brent crude futures jumping over 5% in early trading amid fears that Iran could attempt to disrupt shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for a significant portion of the world's oil supply. As the world holds its breath, the next 24 to 48 hours will be critical in determining whether the US airstrikes will, as President Trump hopes, lead to 'peace,' or whether they have ignited the fuse on a much wider and more destructive regional war.