Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Feb 11: Iran has issued a fresh warning to the United States as tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East, declaring that any threat or attack on the country would be met with a decisive and powerful response.
The Iranian Armed Forces’ general staff said Iran would respond firmly to any conspiracies, threats or what it termed “excessive demands”. It warned that even a single attack on Iran would trigger a counterstrike aimed at eliminating the US presence in the region. Citizens were also urged to take part in rallies marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, highlighting national unity in the face of external threats.
Iran’s warning also made reference to Israel. Reacting to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent visit to the United States, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei cautioned against external pressures that undermine diplomatic efforts.
He said attempts to push for military action against Iran before exploring diplomacy would have consequences, adding that Washington must act independently and not under foreign influence to prevent further instability in the region.
Efforts to ease tensions through diplomacy have so far failed. Negotiations between Iran and the United States resumed in Oman after talks collapsed in June last year following Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets. Subsequent US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities prompted Tehran to retaliate by targeting Israel and key US military bases across the Middle East.
The region is now being described as highly volatile. The United States has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, backed by three warships and a submarine. US forces have also been reinforced at regional bases, with Patriot air defence systems and combat aircraft placed on high alert.
Iran, meanwhile, has stationed large numbers of drones and missiles, signalling readiness for immediate action. The Iranian foreign ministry has warned that any US military strike would invite a full-scale response, including potential attacks on American military installations across the Middle East.
The United States currently maintains military bases in at least eight countries in the region, including Qatar, the UAE and Oman.