TEHRAN, March 31 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned recent threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to bomb the country, calling the remarks a violation of international law, and summoned Switzerland's envoy to Tehran to formally protest the comments.
Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, in a post on social media platform X, denounced Trump's statements as "a shocking affront to the very essence of international peace and security" and accused the U.S. leader of breaching the United Nations Charter and undermining safeguards under the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The Swiss envoy, representing U.S. interests in Iran, was handed an official protest during a meeting with Iranian officials. Tehran warned it would respond "decisively and promptly" to any aggression, according to a ministry statement.
Trump, in an interview with NBC News on Sunday, threatened to launch "unprecedented military strikes" on Iran if it refused to negotiate over its nuclear program.
"If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing like they've never seen before," he said, claiming talks were ongoing but offering no details.
The remarks followed a letter Trump said he sent to Iranian leaders in early March via the United Arab Emirates, proposing direct negotiations on Tehran's nuclear activities.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Sunday that Tehran had formally rejected Trump's proposal for face-to-face talks, citing U.S. sanctions.
"The U.S. behavior will determine the continuation of the negotiation path," Pezeshkian said, leaving open the possibility of indirect diplomacy. ■
