Iran Warns of "severe consequences" if attacked, vows to strike U.S. bases and Israel

Iran’s Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh issued a stern warning on Sunday evening, stating that Tehran will "respond with force" if attacked by either Israel or the United States. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony of a new missile named Qassem Basir, Nasirzadeh declared, "If we are attacked and war is imposed on us, we will respond with force and strike enemy bases and interests." He added, "We have no hostility towards our neighbours, but American bases are targets for us if we are attacked."

During the presentation of the Qassem Basir missile, Nasirzadeh emphasized the missile’s advanced capabilities, claiming it is "resistant to electronic warfare and can bypass ballistic missile defense systems." He stated that the missile was "developed based on the experience gained during the two ‘True Promise’ operations," referring to Iranian missile strikes against Israel in the past year.

According to Iranian claims, the Qassem Basir missile has a range of 1,200 kilometers and is equipped with "special capabilities" allowing it to evade radar systems, interception networks, and air defense systems. The missile can hit its target without the need for GPS and boasts high precision. Nasirzadeh asserted that the missile’s interception probability has been reduced by 95% as a result of enhancements based on Iran’s prior missile attacks on Israel.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued another warning towards both the Houthi rebels in Yemen and Iran, stating on his official X (formerly Twitter) account: “President Trump is absolutely right. The Houthi attacks stem from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack on our airport, and at a time and place of our choosing, we will also respond to Iran.”

U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in on the issue in a statement, writing: “Let no one be fooled! The hundreds of attacks carried out by the Houthis, the thugs and gangsters in Yemen, hated by the Yemeni people, all stem from Iran and are orchestrated by them.”

Trump continued: “Any further attack or retaliation by the Houthis will be met with tremendous force, and there is no guarantee that force will stop there. Iran has played the role of the so-called ‘innocent victim,’ pretending the Houthis are rogue terrorists they’ve lost control over, but they have not lost control.”

According to Trump: “Iran dictates every move, provides them with weapons, supplies them with money and the most sophisticated military equipment, and even so-called ‘intelligence.’ Every shot fired by the Houthis from this point onward will be considered as a shot fired by Iran’s weapons and leadership. Iran will bear responsibility and will suffer the consequences, and those consequences will be severe!”

Iran’s missile unveiling and its pointed rhetoric signal heightened tensions in the region, as the risk of direct confrontation between Iran, Israel, and the United States escalates amid recent missile attacks and geopolitical friction.