Iran Warns of Strong Response if U.S. Airstrikes Continue
Iran has warned that any renewed U.S. military strikes against its territory would trigger retaliation, keeping the risk of a wider Middle East confrontation alive even as direct U.S.-Iran fighting has largely paused. The warning, delivered during a period of heightened military and diplomatic pressure in early August, remains relevant as Washington has shifted much of its immediate focus toward sanctions and economic pressure while keeping military options available. The latest developments show why the original warning needs to be viewed in a changed context. U.S. Central Command reported completing another wave of strikes against Iranian targets on July 29 after an attempted Iranian missile attack on U.S. forces. Since then, publicly acknowledged U.S. strikes inside Iran have not continued at the earlier pace, while Washington has intensified sanctions and Tehran has continued to oppose American pressure. For Iran, the message has been that a military pause does not mean it ha...