Iran vows 'immediate powerful response' to threats against leadership

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Wednesday that any threat against the Iranian people and leadership "will receive an immediate powerful response." He posted the remarks on the US social media platform X amid rising tensions following the implementation of a new ceasefire agreement brokered by Islamabad.

'Muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv'

Araghchi wrote that "The terms of the Islamabad MoU are crystal clear and public for all to see," referring to the memorandum of understanding brokered by Pakistan that entered into force on June 18. He added that US President Donald Trump "has committed the US to muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv," stating that "If they ignore their master, Iran will school them."

The minister posted his comments alongside a screenshot of a news report in which Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was "marked for death." The threatening language from Katz comes as both nations remain technically at war, with the conflict having claimed thousands of lives since Washington and Tel Aviv launched their offensive in late February.

War-ending framework

The Islamabad MoU was electronically signed by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on June 18, providing a framework for ending the war that began in late February. The agreement addresses a cessation of hostilities across all fronts including Lebanon, sanctions relief, the nuclear file, the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and broader regional security arrangements, according to the text released by both capitals.