Iran’s parliament speaker issued a direct warning Friday that American military bases across the Middle East would face immediate retaliation if the U.S. launches attacks against Iran, escalating tensions after President Donald Trump’s recent ultimatum to Tehran’s leadership.
The stark threat from Parliament Speaker Mohammad Qalibaf came during annual Al-Quds Day commemorations, responding to what Iranian officials describe as a confrontational letter Trump sent to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier this month. The U.S. president’s message reportedly presented Iran with two options return to serious nuclear negotiations or face potential military consequences.
“If the Americans attack the sanctity of Iran, the entire region will blow up like a spark in an ammunition dump,” Qalibaf declared in a live televised address. “Their bases and those of their allies will not be safe.” The warning underscores Iran’s strategy of asymmetric warfare, with its network of regional proxies capable of targeting U.S. installations from Iraq to Syria.
The exchange marks a dangerous new phase in the nuclear standoff, reigniting hostilities from Trump’s first term when he unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) and imposed crushing sanctions. Iranian officials have dismissed Trump’s letter as “deceptive,” with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi insisting negotiations remain impossible unless Washington abandons its “maximum pressure” campaign.
While Tehran reportedly sent a response through Omani intermediaries, the substance remains undisclosed. Araqchi’s cryptic remarks suggest the letter combined threats with diplomatic overtures, leaving ambiguity about whether backchannel communications could prevent open conflict. The situation remains volatile as Iran continues exceeding uranium enrichment limits under the abandoned nuclear pact, while U.S. officials maintain all options remain on the table.
Security analysts warn the region sits on a knife’s edge, with any military strike likely triggering Iranian-backed attacks on American forces and allies through militant networks across the Middle East – potentially spiraling into broader regional warfare.
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