Iran warns of stronger response if conflict resumes

TEHRAN: Iran has warned the United States that any renewed aggression would trigger an even stronger response, saying it has drawn lessons from recent conflict and would act with “more surprises” if hostilities resume.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a post on social media platform X, said Washington had acknowledged in the US Congress the loss of “dozens of aircraft worth billions of dollars” during the conflict.

He also reiterated Iranian claims that its forces were the first to shoot down a U.S. F-35 fighter jet, adding that Iran’s military had gained “experience and knowledge” that would shape its future response.

“With lessons learned and knowledge we gained, return to war will feature many more surprises,” Araghchi wrote.

Iranian officials have repeatedly framed recent clashes as a test of its military capabilities against the United States and its allies, while Washington has not confirmed the scale of losses described by Tehran.

Iran says strike on Minab school ‘baseless fabrication’

In a separate statement, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei rejected U.S. Central Command claims regarding an alleged strike on a school in Minab, calling them “baseless fabrication” and a “shameless distortion”.

CENTCOM had earlier said the targeted Shajareh Tayyebeh elementary school in Minab was located near a missile launch facility linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

Baqaei said the U.S. account was an attempt to “obscure the severe reality” of a 28 February strike, which he said killed more than 170 schoolchildren and teachers.

“Targeting an active educational institution during school hours constitutes a grave violation of international humanitarian law and a clear war crime,” he said in a post on X, calling for accountability under international law.

The U.S. has not independently verified Iranian casualty figures and has previously defended its strikes as targeting military infrastructure.

Separately, U.S. media reported that American forces seized an oil tanker linked to Iran in the Indian Ocean. The vessel, identified as *Sky View*, had previously been sanctioned in March for allegedly transporting Iranian crude oil.

The reports said the tanker may have loaded more than one million barrels of crude oil from Iran’s Kharg Island in February. There was no immediate comment from Iranian authorities on the reported seizure.

Trump says conflict could be brought to swift end

U.S. President Donald Trump also said there had been “positive progress” on Iran and suggested the conflict could be brought to a swift end, while reiterating that Tehran must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said Iran’s military capabilities had been “decimated” and warned that renewed strikes could take place within days.

“We will not allow Iran to have nuclear weapons,” he said, adding that Tehran could pose a threat to Israel if it acquired such capability.

Iran has not responded directly to Trump’s latest remarks but has consistently denied seeking nuclear weapons and accuses Washington of escalating tensions through military pressure and sanctions.