 "'Legitimate targets': Iran warns US and Israeli officials’ homes could be hit as war intensifies")
Iran has warned it could target the residences of US and Israeli military and political officials, escalating tensions as the conflict enters its first month.
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for Iran’s joint military command, said on Sunday that the homes of officials from the United States and Israel could now be considered “legitimate targets.”
He said the warning was in retaliation for what Tehran claims were attacks by US and Israeli forces on residential areas in multiple Iranian cities.
The remarks mark a sharp escalation in rhetoric as hostilities between Iran, the United States and Israel intensify, raising concerns about a widening conflict and increased risks to both civilians and senior officials.
“In light of the malicious actions and terrorism of the American-Zionist enemies, and their targeting of residential homes of the Iranian people in various cities, the armed forces of the Islamic Republic, in a retaliatory move, will target the residences of the American-Zionist officials, commanders and politicians in the region," he said in a video clip.
The remarks come as Trump suggested that a deal with Iran could be reached soon, even as he floated the possibility of sending thousands of troops to the country to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or conduct raids on Kharg Island, which handles about 90% of Iran’s oil exports.
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View AllIran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has accused the US of plotting a ground attack despite publicly pushing for a negotiated deal, as the US has deployed thousands of military personnel to the region.
Tensions escalated further on Monday as Israel and Iran exchanged missile fire, while concerns over potential US ground operations on Iran’s Gulf islands drove oil prices higher.
Iran also launched strikes on a water desalination plant in Kuwait, following weekend attacks on its electrical infrastructure that left parts of Tehran without power.
The conflict has disrupted the global economy, triggering fuel shortages across Asia, volatility in stock markets, and surging oil prices.
With inputs from agencies
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