Iran vows to strike entire US bases in region if attacked
Iran’s Defense Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that all US military bases in the West Asian region would be targeted if Washington initiates hostilities against Iran.
Issued during a press briefing following a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the blunt warning specifically referenced US installations in Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE – where the Pentagon maintains about 45,000 troops across dozens of bases.
The minister emphasized Iran’s growing military capabilities, citing last week’s successful test of a ballistic missile carrying a two-ton warhead.
The top US general overseeing American forces in West Asia said on Tuesday there were a range of options when asked if the military was prepared to respond with force if talks with Iran fail.
“I have provided the secretary of defense and the president with a wide range of options,” US Army General Michael “Erik” Kurilla, the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), told a congressional hearing.
“Every so often it is said that if negotiations fail, it will lead to a conflict. On behalf of the Iranian nation, I declare that in case a conflict is imposed upon us, we will strike our designated targets, the enemy will suffer disproportionate losses, and America must leave the region,” Nasirzadeh said.
The minister also stressed that Iran’s defense capabilities are non-negotiable.