Iran Warns New US Attack Will Trigger ‘Much Heavier’ Military Response
TEHRAN, IRAN — WEB DESK: Iran has warned that any new US attack on its territory would draw a “much heavier” military response, saying its forces could strike the source of attacks launched from bases, territory or airspace elsewhere in the region.
The warning was issued jointly by Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff and Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which accused the United States of continuing to use facilities and territory in regional countries for military operations against Iran.
Tehran said it respected the sovereignty of neighbouring states but would not tolerate attacks originating from their territory or airspace. The statement warned governments facilitating US military action that Iranian forces could respond directly against the source of an attack.
The statement represents Iran’s military position and warning. It does not establish that a new US attack has been ordered or that Iran has decided in advance to strike any particular neighbouring country.
Warning Follows Renewed US-Iran Exchange
The warning comes after a fresh exchange of military action around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
US forces struck Iranian positions on Larak Island on Sunday. Iranian media said two people were killed and another two injured in the attack. Tehran subsequently announced retaliatory attacks against sites used by US forces in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
Iran’s military bodies cited the subsequent operations by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian army as evidence of their willingness to respond to further attacks.
However, claims by the different sides about military targets, damage and operational success require careful attribution where independent verification is unavailable.
US Reportedly Considering Limited Hormuz Strikes
The escalation comes as the United States is reportedly considering further limited military action against Iranian capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the Express Tribune report, citing Axios, US Central Command drafted a plan to strike Iranian radar and missile systems that American officials say could threaten commercial shipping, US Navy vessels and military aircraft.
The plan was reportedly backed by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth but had not received presidential approval before the latest exchange of fire.
That distinction is critical: the existence of a military plan or recommendation does not mean President Donald Trump has ordered the strikes.
A White House official quoted in the report said the president retained all available options.
Trump Threatens Strong Response
Trump has separately threatened a forceful response following Iranian attacks on sites used by US forces.
The US president told Fox News that Washington would “hit them hard” in response to the latest Iranian action.
Again, the statement constitutes a public threat rather than confirmation of a new military strike order.
This distinction is especially important amid rapidly developing tensions, where rhetoric, military planning and authorised operations can easily be conflated.
Iran Warns Regional States Over US Operations
Iran’s latest statement also places renewed pressure on Gulf and other regional governments hosting US military forces.
Tehran claimed American forces had continued to use the territory, airspace and facilities of regional countries despite assurances from some governments that they would not permit their territory to be used for attacks against Iran.
Iran did not, in the statement reviewed, announce a blanket decision to attack all countries hosting US forces.
Instead, its military leadership warned that the specific source of future aggression could be targeted.
That qualification matters because several Middle Eastern countries host US personnel or military facilities while simultaneously calling for regional de-escalation.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Central to Crisis
The latest escalation is closely tied to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important energy shipping corridors.
Trump said Monday that the waterway was in “extremely good shape” and claimed US naval assistance was helping an average of around 30 ships transit each night.
Those figures are claims by the US president and should not be treated as independently verified shipping statistics without supporting maritime data.
The renewed tensions are particularly significant because disruption around Hormuz can affect crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, freight costs, insurance premiums and global energy prices.
Tanker Hit by Unknown Projectiles
Maritime security concerns increased further on Tuesday when the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a tanker had been struck by three unidentified projectiles while exiting the Strait of Hormuz off Oman.
The incident occurred approximately 17 nautical miles east of Khasab as the vessel was completing an outbound transit.
No casualties or environmental damage were reported, and authorities were investigating.
Crucially, the available report did not identify who fired the projectiles.
The tanker incident therefore should not be attributed to Iran, the United States or another actor unless investigators establish responsibility.
Diplomacy Remains Unresolved
Despite the military escalation, diplomatic channels have not entirely disappeared.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tuesday that Tehran would reciprocate if Washington returned to commitments under the interim memorandum reached in June. The agreement had subsequently run into disputes over implementation.
Pakistan has also urged both sides to return to implementation of the June understanding and resolve their differences through diplomacy.
However, neither the Iranian statement nor the reported US military planning indicates that a durable settlement has yet been reached.
Risk of Wider Regional Escalation
The central danger is that another direct strike could trigger a new cycle of retaliation.
Iran has now explicitly warned that future attacks could receive a substantially stronger response and that the location from which an attack originates could itself become a target.
