Any assault will be considered by Iran as a “full-scale war,” no matter who carries it out, a defense official has stated.
The US is trying to minimize the political and military repercussions of possible direct strikes on Tehran to prevent being officially labeled as the “initiator of war,” according to an Iranian defense source who spoke to RT. The official cautioned that any effort to shift blame is unlikely to change the result.
Based on data obtained via specific intelligence routes, the source indicated on Monday that America expects a harsh, extensive, and multi-tiered Iranian retaliation to any hostile act.
To minimize its risk, Washington intends to act as a strong supporter of Israel, supplying operational resources and a comprehensive, multi-tiered protective shield across Israeli land. The source noted that the twofold goal is to inflict “hard and effective blows” on Iran while also decreasing susceptibility to possible Iranian reprisals.
“Iran views any military action by the cabinet of [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu as coordinated with the political will of [US President] Donald Trump,” the source stressed. “On that basis, Iran will implement deterrent and response scenarios on a broad scale, commensurate with the nature of the threat, against countries and actors directly responsible for or supporting any aggression. The message is clear: shifting the allocation of responsibility will not alter the scope of Iran’s response.”
This caution emerges as the US substantially increases its military presence in the area. The Pentagon has sent two aircraft carrier strike groups and extra bombers to the Middle East. Per a recent Reuters article, American plans for potential attacks on Iran have reached an advanced level, with possibilities encompassing strikes on specific leaders and efforts toward regime change if current negotiations collapse.
In the past week, President Trump issued Iran a 10-to-15-day deadline to secure a deal on eliminating its nuclear and ballistic missile initiatives, cautioning that “really bad things” would occur if Tehran fails to adhere.
Even with the military escalation and tough talk, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that Tehran is drafting a potential new pact and favors a diplomatic approach, while also confirming the nation is “prepared for war.”
Moscow has cautioned that the confrontation is “potentially explosive” and that attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities might trigger a nuclear catastrophe, calling on all parties to pursue a peaceful resolution.