Iran president calls US power plant threats ‘desperate’ as regional strikes kill 19

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said US warnings of possible strikes on Iranian power plants showed “desperation” as Israeli attacks killed 19 people across Syria and Lebanon on Wednesday.

The president spoke after US officials told reporters Washington might target Iranian energy facilities if Tehran retaliated for Israeli strikes on military sites.

The escalation follows Israel’s campaign against Iran’s regional allies that has expanded from Gaza to Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. US officials fear wider war as Iran weighs response to losses among its proxy forces.

Pezeshkian made the remarks during a cabinet meeting in Tehran, state media reported. “Threatening to hit our power plants shows their desperation,” the president said. He added Iran would respond to any attack on its territory.

US officials speaking anonymously told multiple outlets on Tuesday the military had prepared options for striking Iranian infrastructure. The planning reflected concern over potential Iranian retaliation for Israeli attacks, officials said.

Israel killed 12 people in overnight strikes across Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The UK-based monitor said attacks hit military sites near Damascus and in central provinces.

Seven more died in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon, Lebanese health authorities confirmed. The attacks continued Israel’s 2-week campaign against Hezbollah that has killed over 1,000 people.

US President Joe Biden discussed the situation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, the White House said. Biden urged Netanyahu to minimize civilian casualties and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The conversation came as Israeli forces expanded ground operations in southern Lebanon. The military said troops had uncovered Hezbollah tunnels and weapons caches near the border.

Hezbollah fired 180 rockets into northern Israel on Wednesday, the Israeli military reported. The attacks caused damage but no casualties, medics said. The group has launched thousands of projectiles since October.

Background

Tensions spiked after Israel killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on September 27. The Iranian-backed group had traded fire with Israel since October 8 in support of Hamas.

Iran launched 200 missiles at Israel on October 1 in response to earlier Israeli strikes. The attack caused minimal damage but raised fears of direct confrontation between the regional rivals.

Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on Iranian-linked targets in Syria since 2013. The campaign aims to prevent weapons transfers to Hezbollah and limit Iranian influence near Israeli borders.

US officials have repeatedly warned Iran against attacking American forces in the region. Some 40,000 US troops are stationed across the Middle East at bases in Iraq, Syria, Kuwait and Bahrain.

What’s Next

Iranian officials said they would decide on further retaliation based on Israel’s actions. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told supporters on Wednesday the “resistance” would continue despite recent losses.

The US has deployed additional aircraft carriers and fighter jets to the region as deterrence. Defense officials said the buildup aimed to prevent wider war while protecting American forces.