Even as Tehran said on Monday that any United States attack, including limited strikes, would be an "act of aggression", thousands of Iranian's reportedly got an SMS alert on their phones that reads: "The US President is a man of action. Wait and see."
The US-Iran relations are on the brink of war, as the two countries are also engaged in talks. The next phase of talks between Washington and Tehran, on a possible nuclear deal, will take place in the Swiss city of Geneva on Thursday.
While the talks are entering the third phase, Trump has been upping the ante, with many in the White House feeling that a "war with Iran was imminent". Trump has given a 10-15 day ultimatum to Iran to agree to the nuclear deal, with a warning that if a deal is not reached, it would prove “unfortunate” for the country.
Tehran issued a statement, saying that any state would react to an act of aggression as part of its inherent right to self-defence ferociously. "So that's what we would do," ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said at a briefing in Tehran, the AFP reported.
Also Read: Iran-US Nuclear Talks Set To Resume In Geneva On Feb. 26
Soon after the statement was released did the Iranian people get the SMS on their phones, spreading widespread panic in the country. The SMS, calling the US President a “man of action”, is being seen in continuation of the constant threats by the Trump administration to bomb Iran. The text message was anonymous, and the source of the message could not be verified immediately, the media has reported.
The fresh escalation was reported by the Iranian state media, even as reports of amassing armadas in west Asia for a possible military strike also came in. Trump has been quoted as saying that he was considering a “limited military strike” on Iran, even as the talks between the two countries are slated for Thursday.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted by the CBS as saying that he saw a “good chance” of a diplomatic solution to the standoff over his country's nuclear programme. He, however, reiterated that Tehran won't be pressurised by the US military buildup.
Military Buildup
AFOP has reported that the US military has 13 warships stationed in the Middle East, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which arrived last month, nine destroyers and three frigates.
US-Iran Tensions: Trump Says Considering 'Limited Military Strike' 24 Hours After Warning Of 'Bad Things'
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
