Iran signals readiness to retaliate if attacked as Trump weighs military options over nuclear dispute.
Summary:
Iran told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres it does not seek war but will not tolerate military aggression.
Tehran said all bases and assets of a “hostile force” in the region would be legitimate targets if attacked.
The letter said President Trump’s rhetoric signals a “real risk of military aggression.”
Warning follows reports Trump is weighing an initial limited strike to pressure Iran into a nuclear deal.
U.S. options reportedly range from targeted strikes to broader regime-focused campaigns.
Escalation risk raises concerns for oil markets and regional security architecture
Iran has warned it will respond “decisively” if subjected to military aggression, telling UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that while Tehran does not seek tensions or war, it will consider all bases, facilities and assets of a “hostile force” in the region as legitimate targets if attacked.
In a letter from Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations, officials said President Donald Trump’s recent rhetoric signals a “real risk of military aggression,” underscoring heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The warning comes amid reports that Trump is weighing an initial limited military strike designed to pressure Iran into accepting U.S. demands over its nuclear programme. According to earlier reporting, options under consideration include targeted strikes on select military or government facilities as an opening move, potentially followed by broader operations against regime-linked infrastructure if Tehran refuses to curb uranium enrichment.
The limited-strike concept is said to be framed as leverage for diplomacy rather than an immediate full-scale campaign. Trump has publicly maintained that he prefers a negotiated outcome, though aides have reportedly presented a range of military scenarios, from calibrated attacks to larger-scale operations.
Iran’s letter signals that even a limited U.S. strike could trigger retaliation across the region, raising the prospect of wider conflict involving U.S. bases and allied assets. Tehran’s reference to “all bases, facilities and assets” suggests a broad interpretation of potential targets, increasing the risk of spillovers beyond Iran’s borders.
While Iranian officials emphasised they do not intend to initiate war, the message appears designed to deter U.S. action by raising the cost of escalation.
The exchange highlights the delicate balance between coercive diplomacy and outright confrontation, with nuclear negotiations and regional security dynamics now tightly intertwined.
