Iran warns of strikes on U.S. bases
Iran warned it would target U.S. and allied military bases in the region if Washington launches an attack, as tensions with the United States continue to rise.
An official ceremony will be held in Tehran amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States. Photo: @AJEnglish
January 14, 2026 Hour: 5:50 am
Iran’s defense minister warned that the country would strike U.S. military bases across the region if Washington launches an attack, as tensions escalate following renewed threats by U.S. President Donald Trump.
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Speaking on Wednesday, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nafizardeh said Tehran would respond militarily to any U.S. offensive. “Iran will attack U.S. bases if it is attacked,” he said, according to the Iranian news agency Mehr.
He added that “all U.S. bases and the military bases of other countries in the region that assist the United States in attacks against Iranian soil will be considered legitimate targets.” Nafizardeh also warned that “the Iranian response will be painful for the enemies” if Iran comes under attack.
The remarks come amid repeated threats by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has signaled possible military action against Iran. In June, Trump ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Iranian authorities said those attacks killed more than 1,000 people, most of them civilians. Tehran later responded by striking a U.S. base in Qatar.
Washington has also linked its threats to ongoing protests in Iran. Trump has cited the demonstrations as part of his justification for pressuring the Iranian government. Iranian officials report that hundreds of civilians have been killed during the unrest.
Against this backdrop, Iran is holding funerals on Wednesday for more than 100 members of its security forces who, according to the government, died during the protests. The bodies are being transported in a procession from Tehran University to the capital’s main cemetery, Mehr reported.
Iranian state media have called for massive participation in the ceremonies as a show of unity amid destabilization efforts backed from abroad by the United States and Israel.
The exchange of threats highlights the growing risk of military escalation between Iran and the United States, with regional stability increasingly under strain.
Author: MK
Source: Al Jazzera - teleSUR
