Tel Aviv: Iran threatens the US in an attempt to deter it from attacking its nuclear sites, if the ongoing talks doesn’t result in an agreement that will satisfy Washington.
“American bases and interests will be targeted if a war is imposed on the Islamic Republic,” Iran’s Defence Minister warned on Sunday, May 4 after unveiling a new solid-fuel ballistic missile named Qassem Bassir.
This was reported by Iran International, the website operated from London by the opposition to the regime in Tehran.
“The Islamic Republic has never initiated a war in recent years and will not initiate any war in the future either, but if we are attacked or war is imposed on us, we will respond with strength,” Defence Minister Aziz Nassirzadeh told the state TV when asked about US threats to attack Iran.
“If this war is initiated by the United States or Israel, the Islamic Republic will attack their interests, bases, and forces wherever they may be and whenever it deems necessary. We have no hostility toward neighbouring countries—they are our brothers—but US bases are our targets,” he said, referring to American bases in Arab countries neighbouring Iran.
He also threatened to “employ weapons that have not been used until now” if a war is imposed on Iran.
The defence minister’s remarks came after he unveiled Qassem Bassir, an upgraded ballistic missile that has a range of 1,200 km.
Nassirzadeh said the new missile can “easily overcome THAAD and Patriot missile defence systems”, thanks to its upgraded manoeuvrability.
He said the missile was upgraded after Israel intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles during the April and October 2024 attacks.
With the new upgrade, he said, Israel won’t be able to intercept more than five missiles in 200.
Nassirzadeh said the latest upgraded missile has been added to all Iranian underground missile bases.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
