Iran has warned the White House that it will attack US military bases in the Middle East if President Donald Trump orders an attack on Iran, escalating tensions after the collapse of nuclear talks.
“It would not be possible to attack American soil, but we will target their bases in the region,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Al Jazeera on Saturday, February 7.
“We will not attack neighboring countries, rather we will target US bases located there. There is a big difference between the two,” he added.
US-Iran Talks: A Cautious Start
Earlier, Araghchi described the indirect nuclear talks in Muscat as a “good start” and noted that there was an opportunity to shake hands with the US delegation.
“There is a long way to go to build trust,” he said, adding that talks would resume “soon.”
President Trump also expressed optimism, calling the discussions “very good” and promising another round of talks next week.
The US imposes sanctions and tariffs
Despite cautious diplomatic signals, the United States has stepped up economic pressure on Iran. Trump signed an executive order calling for tariffs on countries that still do business with Tehran.
The US also announced sanctions targeting several maritime entities and vessels aimed at curbing Iran’s oil exports.
Nuclear negotiations end without agreement
The threat came after talks between Washington and Tehran ended on Friday (February 6th), with Iran refusing to compromise on uranium enrichment. The United States has demanded that Iran completely give up enrichment as part of a broader deal to develop ballistic missiles and Tehran’s support for armed proxy groups across the region.
Shortly after negotiations broke down, the US demonstrated its military stance by flying fighter jets over the Arabian Sea.
Growing military confrontation
The tension also spilled over into direct military confrontations. On Tuesday, US forces shot down an Iranian drone after it “aggressively approached” the USS Abraham Lincoln, according to US Central Command.
US forces have assembled what officials have described as a “massive army” in recent weeks, including the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group. Trump has warned that the US could attack Iran if it fails to reach a deal, citing Tehran’s nuclear activities and its crackdown on anti-regime protesters.
Echoes of recent conflict
The latest standoff follows US strikes on Iran during Israel’s 12-day war with Tehran in June. Iran then responded with a missile attack on a US military base in Qatar, despite Doha’s close ties to both Washington and Tehran.