Department of Research, Studies and International News 16-06-2025

Tehran has issued a stern condemnation of the United States, accusing it of complicity in the Zionist entity’s latest wave of brutal aggression against the Islamic Republic. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Sunday that his government possesses concrete evidence implicating Washington in enabling the Zionist regime’s military assaults.

Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, Araghchi affirmed that the attacks by Tel Aviv could not have occurred without prior coordination, logistical support, and military resources provided by American forces stationed in the region. “We hold in our hands undeniable proof of American assistance to the Zionist military operations,” he declared, underscoring the deep involvement of U.S. military bases across West Asia.

In an even more troubling revelation, Araghchi stated that former U.S. President Donald Trump had openly acknowledged knowledge of the Israeli attacks and even admitted they were conducted using U.S.-made weaponry. “Trump himself has admitted these operations could not be executed without American weapons, and that more attacks are in the pipeline,” he added. “This makes the United States an accomplice, not a bystander.”

While Washington has attempted to distance itself from the assaults on Iran’s nuclear facility in Natanz, passing messages through mediators and denying direct involvement, Tehran has flatly rejected such disavowals. “We do not accept the U.S. claim of innocence. The facts on the ground speak otherwise,” Araghchi said. He stressed that Washington must break its silence and denounce the targeting of a peaceful nuclear installation, a clear violation of international law.

The Israeli escalation coincided with renewed diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington, set to resume under Omani mediation. Araghchi argued that the Zionist regime has historically sabotaged diplomatic channels to provoke open confrontation. “Tel Aviv thrives on conflict and instability. It will go to any lengths to derail peace,” he said.

Civilian casualties and targeted assassinations

Since the onslaught began on Friday, Israeli strikes have killed at least 80 people in Iran, including civilians, military personnel, scientists, and senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Residential areas in Tehran and cities nationwide have been struck, alongside sensitive military installations.

In response, the Islamic Republic launched two successive nights of precision missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa. Iranian forces confirmed they have shifted to targeting Zionist energy infrastructure in retaliation for earlier attacks on Iranian oil facilities and power grids.

Sunday saw an intensification of Israeli aerial bombardments, with airstrikes hitting Tehran’s Shahran district, igniting a massive blaze at a fuel reserve. Earlier, Zionist jets struck the Asaluyeh region, targeting Phase 14 of the South Pars gas field, an act Tehran labeled a “strategic blunder.”

“This deliberate provocation in the Persian Gulf is designed to widen the conflict and draw in other nations,” Araghchi warned. “Any further escalation risks engulfing the entire region, and perhaps the world.”

Tehran’s resolve and national unity

Despite the ongoing aggression, Iranian leadership has maintained a defensive posture, signaling openness to de-escalation should Israel halt its military campaign. However, the Zionist regime continues to threaten further strikes, even warning Iranian civilians to steer clear of “weapons facilities” or face death, a statement widely condemned as psychological warfare.

Iranian media responded with defiant headlines. The conservative Keyhan newspaper declared, “We Will End the War and the Zionist Entity Together,” emphasizing the significant damage inflicted by Iranian retaliatory strikes. Meanwhile, reformist papers called for national unity, with Ham-Mihan referring to the situation as a “national battle” and Sazandegi highlighting Iran’s response as a “Slap for Tel Aviv.”

In a powerful gesture unseen since the 1980s, Iranian state TV aired a victory march, evoking memories of the nation’s resilience during the U.S.-backed Iraqi invasion. Officials also warned that Tehran may soon rely on war-era shelters and underground metro stations to protect civilians, highlighting the government’s preparations for a potentially prolonged conflict.

Civil impact and economic ramifications

The war has already begun to disrupt daily life. All flights in and out of the capital have been suspended. Although commercial activity continues, government employees have been advised to work remotely. Tehran’s stock exchange remained shut on Sunday amid uncertainty over the security situation.

Meanwhile, the Iranian currency has taken a hit, dropping from 840,000 to 955,000 rials per U.S. dollar in just days. Yet despite economic pressures and foreign provocations, Tehran remains resolute.

As Araghchi concluded, “Iran does not seek war, but if war is imposed, we will respond decisively. Those supporting Zionist aggression must bear the consequences.