A senior research fellow at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies in Tehran has outlined three potential scenarios for Iran's retaliation following the United States' attack on its nuclear facilities.
President Donald Trump announced on Saturday night that the US military successfully carried out strikes on Iran's three major nuclear sites - Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
Speaking to Aljazeera, Abas Aslani, the Tehran-based expert, suggested that Iran's response could follow one of three paths, depending on the extent of damage and strategic considerations.
Potential Iranian Response Options
"One could be the limited reaction, depending on the size of the damage," Aslani explained. "But let's not forget that in addition to the attack on the nuclear facilities, this is the US's direct entry into the war with Iran. Iran had earlier warned that they will respond to this action."
The second scenario, according to Aslani, could involve "a full-scale war, with Iran trying to engage in serious attacks against US interests as well as the Israeli ones." He noted that this approach "could include a wide scope of targets, including Israeli nuclear sites, and allies of Iran could join this."
For the third option, Aslani described a hybrid approach combining elements of both limited and full-scale responses. This could include leveraging control over the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran "could close to block the balance of energy in the region."
US Position and Warnings
In his announcement of the strikes, President Trump claimed that "no other country in the world could do it better than America," adding that it was "now time for peace."
The US leader later issued a stern warning that it would be "disastrous for Iran" if Tehran attempted to retaliate against the attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has reportedly thanked Trump for what he described as a "bold decision" in bombing Iran's nuclear facilities.
The situation continues to develop as the Trump administration reportedly braces for potential Iranian retaliation, while concerns grow about the impact on global oil prices and regional stability.
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