Iran prepares broader response in case of new large-scale US attacks — Cyprus Mail
In Iran, military commanders and senior officials are preparing options for a broader and tougher response should the United States resume large-scale strikes. This was reported by Cyprus Mail, citing three Iranian officials and a person familiar with the discussions.
According to them, senior commanders are considering expanding the list of potential targets beyond US-linked facilities. It could include countries supporting US military operations, as well as locations outside the Middle East. No final decision has yet been made, the sources said.
Preparation of allied groups
Two of the publication's sources said Tehran had instructed allied groups in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq to be ready to support Iran in the event of a new large-scale US attack. This concerns a coordinated response spanning from the Strait of Hormuz to US interests in the region and beyond.
International Crisis Group analyst Hamidreza Azizi said Tehran is uncertain whether US President Donald Trump will launch a new major campaign or limit himself to strikes on individual facilities, including nuclear ones. In his assessment, the Iranian side is not inclined toward a symbolic response, but toward escalation in order to restore deterrence.
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Negotiations through Qatar
At the same time, Iran is keeping a channel for negotiations open. Last week at the UN General Assembly in New York, Tehran conveyed to Washington through Qatari mediators a proposal that, according to Iranian authorities, could open the Strait of Hormuz and end hostilities in the region within seven days.
The Iranian side said the proposal provides for a cessation of fighting, the lifting of the US blockade of Iranian ports, the unfreezing of at least $12 billion in frozen Iranian funds, and relief from oil sanctions. Trump said on Saturday that he had rejected the proposal. At the same time, Iranian state media reported on a US response delivered through Qatar on Tuesday, which Tehran is now considering.
According to sources, Washington seeks to include Iran's contentious nuclear program in the negotiations, while Tehran insists that discussion of it can begin only after its seven conditions are met. One official described the likelihood of an agreement as very low even if indirect contacts continue.
