IRAN warned today that it will use new weapons and broaden the war with the United States after Donald Trump threatened to “blow the entire nation up.”

Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebbi insisted that Iran was prepared for a prolonged fight.

“If a new aggression occurs, we will certainly change the weaponry and the geography of the war,” he said.

“The US has been defeated in this war and its defeat is also a historic and humiliating defeat, but it does not have the courage to admit and accept this defeat.”

Mr Mohebbi said one sign of that defeat was Washington’s failure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed in response to unprovoked US-Israeli attacks beginning on February 28. 

He said the US had brought all its capabilities into play but “could not” reopen the waterway.

Mr Mohebbi also argued that US bases across the region had become a liability to Washington, as the investment made to provide security “was turned into the opposite of security” when the bases came under Iranian attacks.

He added that Iranian missiles had hit US intelligence centres around the Gulf and northern Iraq, which proved that the facilities were not beyond reach and amounted to “a major intelligence defeat” for Washington.

Mr Mohebbi was responding to more provocative remarks by Mr Trump, who told Fox News on Sunday that he was in “deciding mode” and claimed that “very big things” could happen soon.

The US president described his options as “wiping Iran out, letting them rot economically or making a deal.”

He added: “My question is if and when do I blow the entire nation up? They better behave.”

Iran’s central military command said that it had received intelligence that the US, supported by unnamed countries in the regions, was preparing to resume military action against Tehran.

Iran warned that any US attack would trigger sustained retaliation against US bases and interests across the region.

The statement added that countries helping US action against Iran would be considered parties to the conflict.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will join nearly 130 heads of state in New York at the current session of the United Nations general assembly after being granted visas by the US administration last week.

Mr Trump will address the general assembly this morning and there are unconfirmed reports that he will meet with Mr Pezeshkian on the margins of the gathering.