DUBAI, May 5. /TASS/. Iran will retaliate against potential US and Israeli attacks by striking their military bases wherever they are located, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said.
“Iran will not start any war, but if the Islamic Republic is attacked or aggression is committed against it, we will respond with force,” the top defense official emphasized during an IRIB TV broadcast. According to him, if the US or Israel launch a war against Iran, Tehran will “attack the interests, bases and forces [of the opponents] wherever they are and at whatever time it deems appropriate.”
On April 19, Reuters reported that Israel had presented the US with several options for striking Iranian nuclear infrastructure sites. On April 17, The New York Times said, citing sources, that Israel was already preparing to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities in May and was convinced that the US would actively participate in the preparation of the attack and protect the country from a possible retaliatory strike by Tehran. According to the newspaper, US President Donald Trump set a course for a diplomatic settlement of differences with the Iranian side and informed Israel in early April that he would not support such a military operation.