Tehran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi issued a stark warning to the United States on Sunday, vowing retaliation for airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei without any negotiation or compromise. In an exclusive ABC News interview, he rejected US explanations as fabrications, calling the assaults illegal acts of war.
‘Whatever it takes, we will defend ourselves,’ Araghchi stated firmly, avoiding specifics on timelines, targets, or diplomatic overtures. This broad threat amplifies fears of open-ended reprisals as Iran grapples with profound leadership loss.
US lawmakers remain divided. While Republican Tom Cotton, head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, outlined phased attacks dismantling Iran’s missile arsenal—launchers first, then factories—he stressed the necessity amid ongoing dangers to allies. ‘Iran won’t stop targeting our positions, partners, and Israel,’ he affirmed.
Opposition voices, including Senators Mark Warner and Adam Schiff, challenged the strikes’ rationale. Warner highlighted absent immediate perils and unknowns in Iran’s succession, while Schiff decried the expansive campaign aimed at toppling the regime without solid grounds.
Constitutionally, Iran’s Assembly of Experts holds the key to naming Khamenei’s successor, but the IRGC’s clout could steer outcomes decisively. Araghchi’s defiance ignores reported damages to defenses, insisting on sovereignty amid crisis. With US operations unrelenting, the Middle East edges toward deeper conflict, demanding urgent international mediation.