Iran’s top military official, Major General Abdulrahim Mousavi, announced that the recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities have given Iran’s armed forces full authority to launch retaliatory actions. The strikes targeted three key nuclear sites in northern and central Iran, escalating tensions between the two countries. Mousavi warned that the US must recognize it has empowered Iran’s military to act against any threats to its security and interests.
He further stated that the US attack not only justifies a strong Iranian response but also opens multiple avenues for Iran to retaliate against Israel, which Tehran considers a regional adversary. Mousavi stressed that Iran’s forces will never retreat or show weakness in the face of such aggression.
Earlier, Iran’s Defense Minister, Major General Amir Hatami, condemned the US attack as illegal and vowed a harsh response. Hatami recalled how Iran has withstood multiple US-backed attacks in the past, including support for Iraq’s Saddam Hussein during the 1980s war against Iran. He warned that every time Iran faced such aggression, it responded decisively, and this situation will be no different.
The statements come amid rising conflict in the Middle East after the US dropped heavy bombs on Iran’s nuclear site, claiming to halt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Iran has vowed to retaliate, targeting American military assets in the region. This standoff has raised concerns about the possibility of wider regional conflict.