Iran threatens a devastating response if civilian targets in Iran are attacked
The Iranian military command in Tehran has escalated its warnings, threatening an unprecedented and more devastating military response should civilian targets in Iran attacked again. These statements come amid rapidly escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, where international and regional interests are intricately intertwined. Iranian authorities have asserted that any attack on civilian infrastructure will be met with a decisive response that will alter the current balance of deterrence.
In a statement released on Telegram and carried by Iranian state television, the spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters declared that repeated attacks on vital and civilian infrastructure would lead Tehran to escalate its offensive and retaliatory operations. The statement emphasized that these operations would be “more destructive and more widespread,” reflecting Tehran’s readiness to expand the conflict if necessary.
The historical roots of tensions over civilian targets in Iran
These mutual threats cannot be separated from the long historical context of the conflict between Tehran and Washington, which has escalated significantly since the United States unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement in 2018. Since then, both sides have adopted a policy of “maximum pressure” and engaged in a tanker war in the Gulf. The current threats to strike civilian targets in Iran are particularly sensitive, especially with the suggestion of targeting power plants and bridges—vital infrastructure that impacts the daily lives of citizens. Historically, Tehran has always considered its national security to be inextricably linked to its ability to protect its infrastructure, and it has used the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic bargaining chip, given that approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through it, making any threat of its closure a global crisis.
This strong Iranian warning came as a direct response to threats made by former US President Donald Trump, who threatened to bomb three major bridges and power plants inside Iran unless Tehran reopened the strategic Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. This direct threat to infrastructure prompted the Iranian leadership to mobilize its forces and issue strongly worded warnings to the international community.
Regional and international repercussions of any military escalation
Any military escalation targeting vital infrastructure would have catastrophic repercussions extending beyond local borders to encompass the entire region and the world. Regionally, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the entire region would "burn" as a result of what he described as reckless actions. In an English-language post on the X platform, he addressed the US administration directly, stating: "Your reckless actions are dragging the United States into a hell for every family, and the entire region will burn because you insist on following Benjamin Netanyahu's orders.".
Internationally, this escalation raises serious concerns about the security of global energy supplies and the stability of financial markets. Any tit-for-tat military strike could disrupt shipping in the Persian Gulf, driving oil prices to record highs and further damaging a global economy already reeling from successive crises. Qalyav concluded his remarks by emphasizing that “the only real solution is to respect the rights of the Iranian people and end this dangerous game,” noting that diplomacy and respect for sovereignty are the only way to avoid a devastating all-out war.
