An Iranian official sharply criticized the United States on Friday amid rising tensions between Tehran and Washington, warning that any use of force would be met with a “harsh response” as a broader regional conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel continues under a fragile ceasefire.‘In a post on X, Iranian politician Seyed Mehdi Tabatabai launched a scathing attack on the US, saying, “Instead of indulging in low-value psychological games and election rhetoric with the help of your good lawyers”.Directly targeting US President Donald Trump, he said, “They should come out of the hole that child killers have dug for them, pay compensation for the attack and return to their own land. Iran claims to be a supporter of peace and friendship in the world, but if anyone talks to this country in the language of force, it will be a slap in the face.”He accused Washington of engaging in “low-value psychological games” and election-driven rhetoric, and alleged that the US leadership is relying too heavily on legal advisers in shaping its crisis response. Tabatabei further demanded that the United States pay compensation for recent attacks and called for a reversal of its regional stance, raising the tone of confrontation.The exchange came at a sensitive diplomatic moment, with increasingly sharp rhetoric from all sides overshadowing tentative signs of de-escalation, raising concerns over the durability of the ceasefire.Tabatabei also reiterated Iran’s position that it supports peace and friendly relations globally. However, he stressed that any approach based on “force” would be met with a “stern response”, pointing to Tehran’s declared readiness to retaliate if provoked and further highlighting the weakness of current diplomatic efforts.The comments come amid ongoing tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel after weeks of hostilities that have put the ceasefire under strain.