Iran accuses US of ‘reckless military adventure’, says ‘Iranians never bow to pressure’ amid Hormuz tensions

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday accused the United States of pursuing a “reckless military adventure,” while reaffirming that “Iranians never bow to pressure,” following an exchange of fire between the two sides on Thursday amid a strained ceasefire.

In his first remarks following recent exchanges between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz, Araghchi criticised the US approach to diplomacy and suggested that military action is repeatedly chosen over negotiation.

Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure. Is it a crude pressure tactic? Or the result of a spoiler once again duping POTUS into another quagmire?

Whatever the causes, outcome is the same: Iranians never bow to pressure. pic.twitter.com/ev7dMIebNB

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) May 8, 2026

“Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the US opts for a reckless military adventure. Is it a crude pressure tactic? Or the result of a spoiler once again duping [Donald Trump] into another quagmire?,” he said in a statement on X.

“Whatever the causes, the outcome is the same: Iranians never bow to pressure and diplomacy is always the victim,” he added.

He also dismissed a Washington Post report citing US intelligence assessments of Iran’s missile stockpiles and readiness, disputing the figures presented.

“Also, the CIA is wrong. Our missile inventory and launcher capacity are not at 75% compared to Feb 28. The correct figure is 120%. As for our readiness to defence our people: 1,000%,” he added.

On Thursday, US Central Command said that American forces struck Iranian military facilities it claimed were involved in attacks on US warships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The US, however, played down the significance of the operation, with President Donald Trump stating in a call with ABC News that the ceasefire remained in place.

Washington sought to avoid framing the strikes as an escalation, even as tensions persisted in the region.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry sharply condemned the action, calling it “aggressive and provocative,” and said it reflected Washington’s “inability to properly understand the situation and find a rational way out of its self-created impasse.”

The ministry further warned that Iran remained prepared to respond, stating in a separate message that it was ready to defend itself “against any aggression or evil intent.”

US should get Iran response today, says Rubio

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Rome that Washington expects a response from Iran on Friday regarding its proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.

“We’ll see what the response entails. The hope is it’s something that can put us into a serious process of negotiation,” CNN quoted Rubio as saying.

Rubio also slammed Iranian efforts to control the Strait of Hormuz, following a report that Tehran has created an authority to approve transit through the vital waterway.

“Iran now claims that they own, that they have a right to control, an international waterway… That’s an unacceptable thing that they’re trying to normalise,” AFP quoted Rubio as saying.

Separately, he said President Trump has yet to decide how to respond to allied countries restricting US military access to their bases.

“If one of the main reasons why the US is in Nato is the ability to have forces deployed in Europe that we could project to other contingencies, and now that’s no longer the case, at least when it comes to some Nato members, that’s a problem, and it has to be examined,” he added.

With inputs from agencies