Iran threatens to attack U.S. forces if Israel strikes nuclear sites

Tehran has vowed to unleash an “unprecedented response” if Israel launches a military strike on its nuclear facilities, warning that any such action would engulf the region in war and drag U.S. forces into the line of fire.

As tensions mount, Washington has begun evacuating embassy personnel in Baghdad and other regional countries, with President Donald Trump citing fears that the Middle East “could be a dangerous place.”

The statement, broadcast by Iranian state TV, comes as multiple Iranian officials issue escalating threats of retaliation amid indications that Israel is finalizing plans for an imminent attack on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

Why It Matters

The standoff between Israel and Iran has long simmered, but a confluence of military posturing, inconclusive nuclear talks, and open threats now suggests a turning point. If Israel strikes, Iran has indicated it will retaliate not only against Israeli targets but also U.S. bases across the region. The warning has increased the possibility of a broader regional war.

What to Know

Iran has warned it will unleash a massive regional response if Israel targets its nuclear facilities, with Defense Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh declaring, “In case of any conflict, the U.S. must leave the region because all its bases are within our range, and we will target all of them in the host countries regardless.”

Echoing the threat, Commander-in-Chief of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Hossein Salami, said on Thursday, “If our hands are untied, we will win victories that will make the enemy regret its actions.”

Meanwhile, according to the New York Times, an Iranian official confirmed that Tehran has finalized a detailed retaliation plan modeled after its October 2024 missile barrage, when nearly 200 ballistic missiles were launched at Israel. The official said a future response would match or exceed that scale.

Houthis Back Iran

Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen have also entered a state of high alert. A Houthi source told Newsweek they are “at the highest level of preparedness for any possible American escalation,” adding that a broader conflict “will drag the entire region into the abyss of war.”

Nuclear Talks Continue

Diplomatic efforts continue in parallel. A sixth round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S. will take place in Muscat this Sunday, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi confirmed. “I am pleased to confirm the 6th round of Iran US talks will be held in Muscat this Sunday the 15th,” he wrote on X.

What People Are Saying

U.S. President Donald Trump: “They can’t have a nuclear weapon. Very simple – they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”

Iranian Defense Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh: “If a conflict is imposed on us, all US bases are within our reach, and we will boldly target them in host countries.”

What Happens Next

All eyes now turn to the sixth round of nuclear talks scheduled for this weekend in Oman. With the stakes rising and Tehran preparing a counterproposal after rejecting a U.S. offer, the outcome of the negotiations may determine whether the region steps back from the brink.