TEHRAN: Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated as Iran on Monday warned that it “will not hesitate” to respond to any US attacks on its territory. The statement comes in the wake of White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s announcement that the US will continue its strikes in Iraq and Syria.
Sullivan, in an interview with NBC, refrained from ruling out the possibility of strikes on Iran, stating, “It would not be wise for me to talk about what we were ruling in and ruling out.” He emphasized that any response from Iran would be met with a “swift and forceful” reaction from the United States.
In response, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanani, asserted during a press briefing on Monday that the Islamic Republic has consistently reacted decisively to any threats to its security, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. Kanani made it clear that Iran “will not hesitate to use its capabilities” to counter any attacks on its soil.
Iran Avoiding Escalating Tensions
Despite the strong stance, Kanani reiterated Iran’s reluctance to escalate tensions in the region, stating that the country “does not seek to aggravate tensions and crises.”
The heightened tensions in the region have been fueled by recent events, including the Israel-Hamas conflict that erupted on October 7, drawing in armed groups from Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. The US military’s airstrikes against missiles in Yemen and the subsequent air raids against Yemen’s Houthis by US and UK forces have further contributed to the volatile situation.
The US military’s strikes on Syria and Iraq were carried out in retaliation for a drone attack on a base in Jordan on January 28, which resulted in the death of three US soldiers. Iran condemned the recent strikes in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.
President Joe Biden, while blaming “militant groups” for the attack in Jordan, emphasized that the United States does not seek a broader conflict in the Middle East.
