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Iran warns missile response to new attack could extend to Europe
Iranian lawmaker Hosseinali Haji Deligani has warned that a new US or Israeli attack could trigger Iranian missile strikes with a range extending to Europe. His remarks raise the prospect of a wider regional confrontation and link a possible response to disruption in global energy markets.
Deligani told Iran’s Tasnim news agency that Iran’s response would be “massive, multiplied and strategic”, and could send oil prices above $150 a barrel. He also called the US naval blockade of Iran “a form of war” and said Iranian forces would attack at a moment of their choosing. On Tuesday, Iran’s top military commander had likewise warned that any response to a threat would have no geographical limits.
In short
- Iran warns a new US or Israeli attack could prompt missiles reaching Europe.
- A lawmaker predicts oil could rise above $150 a barrel.
- Tehran also calls the US naval blockade an act of war.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Iran’s strongest case is that a US or Israeli attack would be an act of war and that Tehran has a right to deter further strikes and defend itself. By warning that retaliation could reach beyond the region and disrupt energy markets, Iranian officials may hope to make the costs of an attack clear before one occurs.
The case against
The strongest case against Iran’s threat is that missile strikes extending to Europe could endanger civilians and draw more countries into a conflict, far beyond any immediate confrontation. Threatening massive retaliation and energy-market disruption may heighten fear and escalation risks rather than deter an attack, while putting pressure on states not directly involved.
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