‘It is We Who Will Determine the End’: Iran Rejects Trump’s Claim of ‘Short-Term Excursion’ War

Iran has issued a defiant response to US President Donald Trump's claims regarding the conclusion of hostilities, asserting that it will be the sole authority to determine the end of military actions against American and Israeli targets.

In a statement, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) rejected Washington's timeline for the conflict.

The elite force maintained that the future of the region is now guided by Tehran's military strategy rather than US intervention.

The IRGC spokesperson accused the US president of using "cunning and deceit" to manipulate public opinion following what Tehran described as "shameful defeats."

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The spokesperson further alleged that Trump's claims of safe passage for vessels in the region were false, asserting that American ships and fighter jets have "fled the region more than 1,000 kilometres away" to escape Iranian strikes.

The statement specifically mocked the movement of the US Navy, claiming that "cowardly and timid soldiers" increased their distance after missiles were fired at the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Tehran also dismissed reports of a weakened missile inventory, claiming that Iranian munitions are now "more powerful than in the early days of the war," with some warheads weighing over one ton.

As the conflict continues to choke global energy supplies, the IRGC warned that it would not permit "the export of a single litre of oil" from the region to hostile nations until further notice.

This stance directly challenges Trump's recent threats to protect maritime trade. The US president had earlier suggested that the war against Iran would be a "short-term excursion" to "get rid of some evil."

However, he coupled this with a severe warning regarding the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

"If Iran does anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz, they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far," Trump posted.

He added that the US would target "easily destroyable targets" to ensure it is "virtually impossible for Iran to ever be built back, as a Nation, again."

He characterised the protection of the waterway as a "gift from the United States of America to China" and other nations dependent on the route.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly held a telephone call with Trump on Monday.

According to the Kremlin, Putin "voiced a few ideas regarding a quick political and diplomatic settlement" after consulting with regional leaders and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that France and its allies are preparing a "purely defensive" mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

With nearly 20 per cent of the world's crude oil transiting the waterway, Macron emphasised the need to protect global economic interests from the ongoing volatility.

Iran's Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, said that despite internal differences and challenges, the Iranian people stand united when it comes to foreign interference, stressing that any external involvement in Iran's internal affairs is strongly opposed by the nation.

In a text interview with ANI, when asked about how US President Donald Trump had earlier stated that Iran's future leader should be chosen with his approval, Ambassador Fathali said that such remarks by the US President represent "a lack of understanding of the Iranian people."

"Our people may have different views and even various challenges within the country, but one thing has always been clear: when it comes to foreign interference, the Iranian people unite," he said.

"They strongly oppose any external interference in their internal affairs. This is a well-known reality in the contemporary history of Iran,” he added.

"Throughout history, the Iranian people have shown that they are extremely sensitive about their independence and national sovereignty. Today, the Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been chosen based on the will of the Iranian nation, not the will of the U.S. government,” Fathali added.

Recently, US President Donald Trump expressed his displeasure over the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of Iran.

During a press conference on Monday, he told the media, "I was disappointed because we think it's going to lead to just more of the same problem for the country. I was disappointed to see their choice."

(With inputs from ANI)