Iran vows retaliation as US plans energy strikes

WAR WARNING | Tehran warns regional countries against aiding Washington as attacks spread across Gulf and Iraq

Cabinet Meet Highlights

1. US Defence Secy Pete Hegseth has said Trump govt is working with Congress to secure a $1.5 trillion defence budget. 
2. US Vice President JD Vance said Trump admin has identified $230bn in fraudulent govt payments and prevented $56bn from being disbursed.
3. US Secy of State Marco Rubio said the Trump admin has launched a global campaign to curb the influence of the International Criminal Court.

Tehran: Iran has threatened retaliation if the US attacks its critical energy infrastructure, warning regional countries against helping Washington as military strikes continue across the region, Al Jazeera reported.

Addressing the neighbours, Major General Ali Abdollahi, head of Iran’s wartime military command, said, “The US is moving at an accelerating pace to fan the flames of a full-scale regional war. The US was using their capital, resources and infrastructure to further its interests while strengthe­ning Israel’s war machine.”

“Muslim countries must, with foresight, monitor Ame­rica’s crimes and reconsider their cooperation and alignment with the US,” he said.

The warning followed reports in major US media outlets that the US and Israel could launch extensive attacks on Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including power plants and petrochemical facilities.

President Donald Trump has yet to give final authorisation for an operation that could last up to two weeks and seek to cut electricity in Tehran and cause disruptions across Iran, the reports said.

Iran’s state-linked Tasnim reported the armed forces had prepared an extensive retaliation plan against any “potential madness” by the US, including strikes on “vital infrastructure” linked to the US and Israel.

Meanwhile, Kuwait said its air defences destroyed multi­ple Iranian drones in its airspace on Saturday. Some government facilities and civilian vehicles were damaged.

At least two vessels were hit off Oman, as per Western maritime authorities, with one suffering engine-room damage. Iranian state media broadcast footage near a missile-struck ship and said four other vessels had been turned back as the Strait of Hormuz remained closed to traffic not approved by the IRGC.

In Iraq, sporadic drone attacks targeted Iranian Kur­dish opposition groups that have raised the possibility of joining the conflict to topple Iran’s Islamic Republic. Two Kurdish armed groups said they were targeted on Friday.

Pro-Iran media released footage purportedly showing a refinery in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, afire after an attack by an unidentified actor.

DON’T HELP America, ARAGHCHI Tells UK

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has asked Britain not to extend any military cooperation to the US in attacking Iran. 

During a phone call with Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, Araghchi emphasised any cooperation with “aggressors” would be “unacceptable”.

Araghchi criticised what he described as the British government’s “unjustified and inappropriate” policies towards Iran. calling on London to reconsider its approach towards Tehran. 

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PIO US SOLDIER LAID TO REST

Indian-origin US Army Staff Serg­eant Angel Ram­pe­rsad, killed in an Iranian missile strike on a US base in Jordan last month, was laid to rest with military honours. Hundreds attended her funeral on Friday. New York Governor Kathy Hochul hailed Rampersad’s “courage and selflessness”.

We will be hitting them very hard...And at some point, they will say we just can't take it anymore. We just want to win.

Donald Trump US President

Any nation making itself a defensive shield for criminal, aggressor US will burn in the fire of war.

Ali Abdollahi Major General, head of Iran’s wartime military command