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Iran Warns of Expanded Retaliation as Israel Readies Strikes — AI-generated representative image: A cargo tanker sails through the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route at the center of rising regional tensions.

Editorial Team

Tehran threatens military bases across West Asia and Europe amid rising Israel-Iran tensions and US naval pressure

Israel's security cabinet has ordered the military to step up readiness for possible strikes on Iran, Israeli media reported Wednesday evening, as Tehran warned it would expand the conflict beyond the region if attacked.

The directives, chaired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were disclosed by public broadcaster KAN, which said the orders could trigger activities leading to war.

The reported preparations come amid intense diplomatic efforts to avert further conflict, with the United States pursuing a Qatari-backed negotiating track while simultaneously enforcing a naval blockade on Iran. The developments carry significant risk of escalation at a time when both regional stability and global oil markets remain highly sensitive.

Escalation and Warnings

Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei said in a social media post that if the United States launches another war against Iran, every military base involved in the aggression, from West Asia to Europe, would be a legitimate target for Iran's lethal strikes. He added: "No safe distance. No safe haven. No immunity."

US President Donald Trump has said he is prepared to return to waging war if the diplomatic track offered by Qatar fails to facilitate a deal between Washington and Tehran. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration's economic pressure campaign is proving effective enough that a resumption of large-scale military operations is unnecessary.

Political and Diplomatic Backdrop

The Israeli directives were made public after opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot issued a statement telling Netanyahu, who is serving as prime minister in a caretaker capacity, not to deploy the military "without a direct and immediate threat" until the next government is formed. Eisenkot was offered the chance to form a new government by Israeli President Isaac Herzog over the weekend after Netanyahu's ruling coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the October elections.

Netanyahu, who is on the cusp of losing power if the opposition succeeds in forming a government, has been adamant that the war on Iran will continue until the collapse of the government in Tehran.

Negotiations and Market Impact

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the current lead negotiator, said in an interview published Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz will "never return" to its status prior to the US-Israel war on Iran and that "the ball is now in the American court." He added: "What stands in the way of an agreement is our lack of trust in the United States."

Oil prices rose about 1 percent Wednesday after Tehran rejected a US proposal to transfer its stockpile of 60 percent enriched uranium to a third country. Brent futures settled $1.27, or 1.39 percent, higher at $92.76, while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 49 cents, or 0.57 percent, to $86.53. In the previous session, prices had initially fallen by more than $3 a barrel after US officials played down the need for further military strikes.

Current Status and Next Steps

Despite the push for peace, US forces continue to work around the clock keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for commercial shipping while strictly enforcing a naval blockade against Iran, according to US Central Command. Iranian leadership is reportedly discussing whether to appoint Rezaei as its new chief negotiator, while voices in Tehran have indicated Iran might take pre-emptive action if the current status quo persists.