Two Iranian officials told the New York Times that Iran's armed forces are preparing for a possible expansion of the war if President Trump follows through on his threats to strike Tehran and its vital infrastructure. According to the officials, Iran would respond by striking Tel Aviv and directing the Houthis to close the strategic Bab el-Mandeb strait.
Two Iranian officials have told the New York Times that Tehran is preparing for a wider war if President Trump attacks, threatening to strike Tel Aviv and close the Bab el-Mandeb strait via the Houthis. The threat, reported by the newspaper early Friday, marks the latest in a series of escalating warnings between Washington and Tehran.
This follows a report by The Zioneer on July 23 citing Israeli security sources who assessed that Iran would only attack Israel directly if Israel itself entered a conflict, but could target Israel as part of a deterrence strategy if the US strikes the Houthis. The current threat appears to expand that scenario, explicitly naming Tel Aviv as a target.
The wider context includes a confirmed Israeli strike on Iran on June 8, and repeated US warnings of a broader military operation against Iran's nuclear and infrastructure sites. The Houthis have previously threatened to close the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a key maritime chokepoint, in the event of further escalation. The Iranian officials' statement is the first to directly link a Houthi blockade to a US attack on Iran itself.
It remains unclear whether the threat represents a formal policy shift or a rhetorical posture. The New York Times report is based on two anonymous officials, and no independent confirmation has emerged.
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Source and signal
- Internal intake