DID Press: A senior Iranian security official has warned that if a new phase of large-scale war begins, including the assassination of officials and the killing of civilians, Iran will consider US political targets and infrastructure in countries participating in the conflict to be legitimate targets.
The official stressed that Tehran considers a US-Israeli attack possible and views Washington’s diplomatic gestures as lacking credibility. Referring to a speech by the US secretary of state in Athens, the official said Washington’s efforts to frame its war against Iran in historical and civilizational terms had further deepened Iranian distrust.
According to the official, Iran’s political and intellectual leadership believes that US policy in the Middle East is directed and managed by Israel. The official also claimed that Tel Aviv obstructs any diplomatic understanding between Tehran and Washington and that Israel remains a priority in President Donald Trump’s policies.
The official further said Iran considers itself to be at war with the United States, describing Washington’s economic and naval blockade and air restrictions against Iran as a continuation of US military aggression on 28 February last year.
The security official said instructions had been issued to operational units at various levels to place US political targets, as well as infrastructure belonging to the United States and countries participating in the war, on Iran’s list of legitimate targets if a new phase of large-scale conflict begins—particularly in the event of assassinations of Iranian officials or the killing of civilians.