The escalation came as both sides have missed a 60-day ceasefire window to reach a deal, closing off the formal truce mechanism to end the six-month war.

By Jana Choukeir and Susan HeaveyDUBAI/WASHINGTON, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Iran said on Friday that its response to any new U.S. threats would be "devastating" after Washington pledged…

“Iran’s armed forces will respond to the enemy’s new threats with crushing, punishing and devastating responses,” Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi was quoted as saying by Iranian media.