Updated

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated threats against Iran on October 18, with Trump warning Washington could soon finish the job against Tehran and Netanyahu saying Israel was prepared to strike without US support and vowed to topple Iran's government. Iranian military and political leaders responded with a wave of defiant statements, including Armed Forces Chief of Staff Ali Abdollahi saying Iran is counting down to the next enemy miscalculation, Basij chief Hossein Taeb claiming the US miscalculated Iran's resilience, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei warning of a response more devastating than the prior 12-day and 40-day wars. Other officials, including IRGC advisors, the acting and newly appointed defense ministers, and the Army, reiterated that Iran's retaliation would be unpredictable and decisive, with one commander vowing to answer the US "mother of all bombs" with a "father of bombs." Separately, Press TV dismissed US media hype over a potential MOAB strike as propaganda, arguing the weapon cannot penetrate Iran's hardened nuclear facilities, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran's defense capabilities and diplomacy would safeguard its sovereignty.