Fars News Agency, citing senior Iranian officials: the attacks will expand in the coming days

Fars News Agency, citing senior Iranian officials: the attacks will expand in the coming days

Tehran has vowed to expand its retaliation against Israel following the Jewish state's military strikes on its nuclear facilities, according to senior Iranian officials.

The escalation comes after Israel launched its operation, dubbed "Rising Lion," targeting Iran's nuclear program and military leadership. The strikes, which occurred on Friday, 14th June 2025, were conducted without the blessing of the United States, which has sought to distance itself from the action.

Iranian Defense Minister General Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that any conflict would see the U.S. bases in the region targeted, stating, "If a conflict is imposed on us, all US bases are within our reach, and we will boldly target them in host countries" [1].

The Israeli strikes, which included airstrikes against at least one of Iran's enrichment sites and targeted strikes in Tehran, were aimed at halting Iran's progress in developing nuclear weapons. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the operation would continue until Iran's nuclear threat is eliminated.

In response, Iran has indicated it will retaliate against both Israeli and U.S. targets. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has vowed to "win victories that will make the enemy regret its actions," according to Commander-in-Chief Major General Hossein Salami [1].

The United States, which has been pursuing a diplomatic path with Iran, has sought to distance itself from Israel's unilateral action. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, "Our top priority is protecting American forces in the region" [2].

The current tensions come as diplomatic efforts continue, with a sixth round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the U.S. scheduled for this weekend in Muscat.

The Iranian response is expected to include the use of ballistic missiles, similar to the October 2024 missile barrage that targeted Israel. An Iranian official confirmed that Tehran has finalized a detailed retaliation plan modeled after this previous attack [1].

The escalation has raised concerns of a broader regional conflict, with Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen also entering a state of high alert [1].

The outcome of the nuclear talks and Iran's retaliation plans will significantly impact the geopolitical and financial landscape in the Middle East and beyond.

References:
[1] https://www.newsweek.com/iran-middle-east-war-israel-donald-trump-2084349
[2] https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/13/middleeast/israel-attack-iran-nuclear-program-explainer-intl