Iran says it will strike back if US or Israel attacks

5/5/2025 5:48

Iran's Defence Minister Aziz

Nasirzadeh said on Sunday that Tehran would strike back if the

United States or Israel attacked.



Nasirzadeh's comments came after Israeli Prime Minister

Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate against Iran for the

Tehran-backed Houthi group



firing a missile that landed near Israel's main airport.



"If this war is initiated by the U.S. or the Zionist regime

(Israel), Iran will target their interests, bases and forces -

wherever they may be and whenever deemed necessary," Nasirzadeh

told Iranian state TV.



Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis launched a missile on Sunday

that landed near Ben Gurion Airport, the latest in a string of

attacks, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians

in Gaza.



"Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will

respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a

time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror

masters," Netanyahu said on social media platform X.



Echoing Iran's official stance, Nasirzadeh said Houthis

act upon their own motivations.



Iran-aligned Houthis have been launching missiles and

drones at Israel in support of Hamas fighters. The United States

has been striking Houthi strongholds in Yemen since March 15,

with President Donald Trump vowing to hold Iran responsible for

any attacks carried out by the group.



Iran has "no hostility toward neighbouring countries",

but in case of an attack, the U.S. bases located in the region

will be considered targets by Tehran, Nasirzadeh also said.



The minister's statements followed Iran unveiling on

Sunday a new solid-fuel ballistic missile called "Qassem

Bassir," which has a range of 1,200 km (750 miles), Iranian

state media reported.