Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says that the consequences of the United States’ “whimsical adventurism and roguish behaviour have now become clear to the entire world”.

“Vermin-like nocturnal scheming and naive euphemisms such as ‘a light slap’ can do nothing to erase the profound disgrace born of narcissism, greed, reckless miscalculation, and lawless irresponsibility,” Baghaei writes in a strongly worded post on X.

He notes that “disjointed [and] delusional” posts on social media hold no sway on reality, in an apparent reference to US President Donald Trump’s posts on Truth Social.

“As ever, ‘the deeper they sink into folly, the more inventive they become in justifying it,’” Baghaei adds.