Iran Warns US After Strikes, Fears of Wider War Grow

Escalation Looms After US Attacks on Iranian Nuclear Sites

Following a series of US air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Tehran is warning of repercussions, heightening tensions in the Middle East. The attacks, which Washington claims crippled Iran’s nuclear program, have ignited fears of a wider, devastating conflict across the region.

Iran has threatened to strike US bases within the Middle East. Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that any base used by the US to attack Iran would be a legitimate target.

“Any country in the region or elsewhere that is used by American forces to strike Iran will be considered a legitimate target for our armed forces,”

—Ali Akbar Velayati, Advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader

The US President, Donald Trump, called on Iran to halt the conflict after the attacks. He also floated the idea of regime change in Iran, even as his aides stressed that was not a US goal. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Iran has the second-largest proven oil reserves globally, increasing the stakes in the current conflict (CFR).

Retaliation and Regional Reactions

In response, Iran targeted sites in Israel, including Ben Gurion airport, injuring at least 23 people. Protests erupted in Tehran. Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s President, vowed a response to the attacks. There were also reports of casualties from strikes inside Iran.

J.D. Vance, the Vice-President, stated that while the US had substantially set back the Iranian nuclear program, they would work to manage remaining enriched uranium.

The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Oman criticized the US strikes and urged de-escalation. French President Emmanuel Macron warned against an “uncontrolled escalation,” echoing calls from Germany and the UK for Iran to avoid actions that would destabilize the region.