Iran threatens ‘painful’ strikes on U.S. bases across Mideast

Iran's central military command issued a sweeping threat on Sunday, warning that all American bases and interests across the Middle East would face "sustained, effective, and painful attacks" if the United States launches a new round of strikes against the Islamic Republic.

Military Warning and Intelligence Claims

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement broadcast on state television that it had received intelligence indicating Washington has decided to resume military operations against Iran "with the green light of some regional countries" following "a joint meeting in a European country." The command warned that regional states cooperating with any U.S. offensive would be "considered complicit" and could "no longer expect restraint or decency from Iran's powerful armed forces."bastillepost+2

The threat comes against the backdrop of broader regional instability. The U.S. Embassy in Israel issued an unusual security alert to American citizens on Sunday, citing escalating tensions between Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia and warning of "potential for unexpected escalation" across the Middle East. The embassy advised Americans to monitor airport operations and airline activity, and cautioned that U.S. diplomatic missions and businesses could be targeted worldwide.jfeed

Diplomatic Signals Amid Military Rhetoric

Despite the bellicose language, senior Iranian officials signaled willingness to return to a framework agreement reached with Washington in June. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, acting as Iran's chief negotiator, confirmed that Tehran's conditions for ending the conflict had been delivered to the U.S. through intermediaries. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary-general of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told Al Jazeera that Iran's demands include "an end to the war on all fronts, the release of our frozen funds and an end to the naval blockade," along with a formal cessation of fighting between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia.dailysabah

The June framework agreement, under which Iran committed to ensuring free passage through the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the lifting of a U.S. naval blockade and the unfreezing of Iranian assets, collapsed after the initial 60-day negotiation window expired without resolution. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was set to arrive in Tehran on Sunday for bilateral talks as part of ongoing mediation efforts, with Qatar also serving as a channel to the U.S. government.dailysabah

Domestic Security Operations

Iran's Ministry of Intelligence announced on Sunday that it had dismantled three cells it described as linked to the United States and Israel in the provinces of Alborz, Kerman, and West Azerbaijan. Separately, Iranian authorities executed a man accused of providing Israel's intelligence agency with information about military bases, following two similar executions in August.bastillepost