The US will face bigger shocks if it launches war against Iran again: Abbas Araqchi

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned on Wednesday that if the US again adopts an aggressive approach against Iran without provocation, Tehran has "several major blows" in store for the US. He cited a US Congressional report that acknowledged the heavy losses suffered by the US Air Force during the weeks-long conflict.

In a statement on the social media platform X, Araqchi said Iran will benefit from the experience and lessons gained from its previous confrontation with the US to respond to any future hostile action and inflict unexpected blows on the aggressors. He stated that US Congress members have, in fact, verified Iran's military capabilities by acknowledging the large-scale losses during the 40-day military campaign.

Araqchi, citing the US Congressional report, claimed that the US military lost at least 42 planes during the conflict, resulting in estimated losses of around $2.6 billion. He added that Iranian armed forces have become the first to down the world's most advanced F-35 fighter jet.

According to the report, the US military lost 42 planes, either destroyed or severely damaged, during the 40-day joint aerial bombing campaign against Iran launched by the US and Israel. The losses include four F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets, one F-35A Lightning-2, one A-10 Thunderbolt-2, seven KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling planes, one E-3 Sentry airborne surveillance plane, two MC-130J Commando-2 planes, one HH-60W Jolly Green-2 helicopter, 24 MQ-9 Reaper drones, and one MQ-4C Triton drone.

The US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, which have been halted since a fragile ceasefire brokered by Pakistan on April 7. During this time, Iran took steps to target US military installations in Gulf countries and strengthen its control over the global oil supply passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

These details emerged in a report released by the Congressional Research Service on May 13, which reviewed the losses incurred during "Operation Epic Fury." The report stated that the long-term replacement cost of the destroyed planes could exceed $7 billion, as some systems are no longer in active production and may require restarting production lines.

The report noted that after the loss of the E-3 Sentry plane, the Pentagon may have to restart the previously canceled E-7 Wedgetail program, which is estimated to cost over $2.5 billion. Meanwhile, the US tightened sanctions on Iranian ports, causing anxiety in global energy markets and leading to a rise in fuel prices in the US, increasing political pressure on Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, Trump expressed hope that the conflict would be resolved "very soon." He claimed that oil prices would plummet after a deal is reached. Iranian President Masoud Pezhman has vowed that Iran will not yield to increasing US pressure. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a stern warning against potential US and Israeli military action, stating that if Iran is attacked again, the ongoing war will not be limited to the Middle East but will spread far beyond the region.

The IRGC's statement comes at a time when a fragile ceasefire is in place in the region, and Iran has announced plans to strengthen its defensive position. On the other hand, Iranian Ambassador to China Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli shed light on the ongoing diplomatic efforts between Tehran and Washington, saying that Iran-US relations are an extremely complex and sensitive issue. However, China has played a crucial and key role in the mediation process initiated by Islamabad.

The Iranian ambassador noted that Beijing generally only participates in international mediation when it has strong hopes for a positive and sustainable outcome. Rahmani Fazli clarified that the current delicate diplomatic and mediation process is the result of the best strategic cooperation and joint efforts between Iran, Pakistan, and China. He expressed hope that through this trilateral cooperation, it may be possible to make positive progress toward saving the region from a major catastrophe and establishing lasting peace; however, Tehran is fully prepared to defend itself in the face of any aggression.