Iran warns it would strike U.S. military bases in Middle East if attacked

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said on Saturday that Tehran would respond to any U.S. military attack by targeting American bases stationed across the Middle East. 

He made the remarks in an interview with Qatari television amid sharply rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Araqchi stressed that Iran would not strike the territory of host nations or the U.S. mainland, but would focus specifically on U.S. military installations in the region if Iran were attacked. 

He framed this as a defensive measure, saying that Iran “cannot strike American soil, but we will target their bases in the region.”

His comments came a day after indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States in Oman were described as positive by both sides, though no specific date has been set for the next round of discussions. 

Araqchi reiterated that Tehran is willing to discuss its nuclear program but refuses to widen negotiations to include its ballistic missile program or other issues.