TEHRAN — Iran Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, issued a strong warning to the United States (US) on Wednesday, describing Washington’s military strategy as a “strategic failure” and rejecting what he called attempts to disguise defeat as diplomacy.
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Speaking to Press TV, Zolfaqari criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent claims of progress in resolving hostilities in West Asia, stating that no formal communication had taken place despite Trump’s public assertions of “very good and constructive conversations.”
Iran warns US, Israeli water desalination facilities in the region will be hit if Iranian energy infrastructure is attacked. Statement by Iran’s Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari: pic.twitter.com/1xoQkpFcZI
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) March 22, 2026
“The era of your promises is over,” he said, emphasizing a stark divide between truth and falsehood. Zolfaqari mocked perceived discord within U.S. ranks, questioning whether internal conflicts had led Washington to negotiate with itself.
The Iranian commander also issued a direct economic and strategic warning. He stated that neither previous U.S. investment levels nor pre-war energy prices would return and asserted that regional stability would be maintained “through our power.” He stressed that previous conditions could only be restored if the “very thought of taking military action against the Iranian nation is completely erased.”
Zolfaqari’s remarks follow Trump’s withdrawal from a strict 48-hour ultimatum to strike Iranian energy facilities, a move prompted by Tehran’s warnings of retaliation against regional power and energy sites. He concluded with a stark message: “People like us can never get along with people like you—not now, and not ever.”
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Analysts say such statements underscore the heightened rhetoric on both sides even as diplomatic channels are reported to be tentative. The comments come amid ongoing U.S. troop deployments and continued military strikes in the region, highlighting the fragile nature of any potential resolution and the continued risk of escalation.