Tehran threatens strikes on energy, civilian targets, and nuclear escalation if attacked

Tehran is threatening to respond to a renewed US and Israeli air campaign with strikes on civilian infrastructure, including natural gas pipelines and airports, and has warned of potential nuclear escalation, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The threats come amid deadlocked negotiations and US President Donald Trump's warnings of potential attack after midterm elections.

Tehran is threatening to respond to a renewed US and Israeli air campaign with strikes on an expanded list of targets, including civilian infrastructure, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The warnings, issued publicly and over diplomatic communications, said that Iran would attack not only American bases and warships, but also natural energy infrastructure, natural gas pipelines, airports, and other civilian targets in the Persian Gulf region. Tehran has also threatened to utilize a new array of weapons, including nuclear bombs. According to Iran International, the head of the Iranian parliament's International Affairs Committee, Mohammad-Saleh Jokar, called for the suspension of Iran's cooperation with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in the event of an attack by the United States. Analysts estimate Iran to hold hundreds of thousands of ballistic missiles, having resumed production in underground facilities. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned in an op-ed that new attacks will put civilian lives and the global economy at great risk. Negotiations have been deadlocked for months, and US President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Iran that failure to come to an agreement could result in the US attacking Iran after midterm elections in early November.