Iran warns US is preparing to resume strikes, threatens retaliation

Iran's central military command warned Sunday that the United States is preparing to resume strikes on the country, threatening retaliation against American bases and interests in the Middle East if any renewed assault occurs. The warning from the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters follows months of reduced direct attacks, with Tehran stating that regional countries allowing their territory to support US operations would be "considered complicit" and face potential Iranian responses. President Donald Trump said he is in a "deciding mode" over Iran, weighing military action, economic pressure, or a deal, while remaining open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the UN General Assembly this week. The confrontation has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, with commodity vessel crossings dropping from 35 to 12 over the weekend. The war began in late February after joint US-Israeli strikes, and a 60-day memorandum from June expired last month, increasing attacks around the key energy shipping route. Qatar is mediating, with Iranian conditions for talks including an end to US attacks, release of frozen funds, and lifting the naval blockade.