Bulukumba News – Television screens in Tehran were still showing Donald Trump’s speech as Iran’s counter-statement began to spread rapidly on social media. In political discussion rooms, in military headquarters, and in tea shops that remain open late at night, one sentence is the center of attention: America is said to be forced to retreat and surrender.
The tension broke out just hours after United States President Donald Trump announced he was canceling a large-scale military attack on Iran which was previously scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 19 2026 local time. Trump’s statement was conveyed via account TruthSocial his and then quoted by various international media.
This sudden decision was said to have been taken after requests from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates who were concerned that open war would destabilize the Gulf region.
But in Tehran, the cancellation was not read as a peaceful move. Instead, Iran saw it as a sign of Washington’s hesitation.
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Iran’s threat after Trump cancels attack
Senior advisor to Iran’s supreme leader and former supreme commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Mohsen Rezaei, immediately responded strongly to Trump’s statement. The statement was quoted by Iranian media, PressTVon Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
Through posts on X’s social media, Rezaei laughed at the United States’ approach which was considered inconsistent.
“Trump set a deadline for a military strike and then canceled it himself, in the vain hope of forcing the Iranian nation and officials to surrender!” wrote Rezaei.
He then made a threat which was immediately widely quoted by international media.
“Iran’s formidable military strength and great nation will force them to retreat and surrender,” he stressed.
The statement shows how psychological warfare is now moving far beyond missile threats and the deployment of warships. Iran is trying to show that it is not under pressure, even after America announced readiness for a major attack.
In Washington, Trump earlier said he had ordered the US military to suspend military operations against Iran because of “serious negotiations” underway.
Trump also emphasized that a full attack could still be carried out at any time if an agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear program fails to be reached.
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Getting closer to open war
Tensions further escalated after a separate statement from Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, the highest operational command unit of the Iranian military. Abdollahi’s statement was also reported by Press TV on the same day.
In a harsher tone, Abdollahi warned the United States and its allies against making “strategic mistakes” against Iran.
“They must know that any new aggression or invasion by the enemies of our homeland and our proud nation will be met with a swift, firm, strong and broad response,” he said.
He even emphasized that the next war would present Iran with far greater strength than the current conflict.
These statements emerged in the midst of the Middle East situation which continues to be fragile. The Gulf states are in a difficult position: maintaining strategic ties with Washington while avoiding a major war that could destroy regional stability and global economic pathways.
In Tehran, threats of war no longer sound like the usual diplomatic rhetoric. The atmosphere of the city was filled with a vague but real anxiety. People are still working, markets are still open, but every international news notification immediately attracts attention.
Because everyone knows, one decision from Washington or Tehran can turn an ordinary night into the start of a conflict that shakes the world.***
