In a dramatic escalation of Middle Eastern tensions, Iran has directly accused the United States of facilitating Israel’s military attacks on its territory—accusations that threaten to internationalize a conflict already spilling across borders. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a fiery press briefing from Tehran on Sunday, declared that Israel’s recent bombardments of Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure could not have occurred without Washington’s explicit approval and logistical support.
“We possess irrefutable evidence that US regional bases and assets were used to aid the Zionist regime’s aggression,” Araghchi said. He further alleged that former US President Donald Trump had openly acknowledged foreknowledge of the strikes and indirectly endorsed further escalation.
The remarks come as both Iran and Israel exchange intense cross-border attacks, plunging the region into a state of undeclared war. Israel’s latest airstrikes reportedly targeted Tehran’s Shahran fuel depots and critical energy facilities in Bushehr, including the vital Phase 14 of the South Pars gas field. In retaliation, Iran has launched waves of drone and missile strikes on Tel Aviv and Haifa, reportedly causing substantial damage to Israeli infrastructure.
The situation intensified dramatically over the weekend, with the Iranian government confirming at least 80 casualties, including military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. Iranian media labeled it a “national battle,” while leading conservative newspapers like Keyhan boldly declared: “We will finish the war and Israel together.”
While Tehran faces devastating material losses, the diplomatic and political ramifications may be even more profound. Araghchi warned that the attacks were not just military miscalculations but part of a “strategic blunder” that risked dragging the entire Persian Gulf—and by extension, global powers—into open conflict.
Iran insists that these strikes constitute a blatant violation of international law, particularly the sabotage of its peaceful nuclear infrastructure at Natanz. “We do not accept US denials,” Araghchi stressed, noting that intermediaries from Oman and other neutral countries had conveyed vague American disavowals of involvement—disavowals that Iran rejects outright due to mounting circumstantial evidence.
Araghchi demanded the Biden administration clearly condemn the Israeli strikes and disassociate itself from Tel Aviv’s war campaign. “If the United States truly seeks peace and disarmament, it must stand on the right side of international law. Silence is complicity,” he said.
The conflict has already disrupted daily life in Iran’s capital. Tehran’s Chamber of Guilds has suspended normal commercial operations, government offices have been shifted to remote work, and flights remain grounded. State media has revived war-era victory anthems for the first time since the Iran-Iraq War, a clear indication of the gravity of the moment.
Amid the chaos, Iran’s economy has taken a serious hit. The rial plunged to a new low of 955,000 against the US dollar, wiping out months of cautious recovery. The Tehran Stock Exchange remained shuttered Sunday, with officials uncertain about its reopening.
Tehran’s message is clear: if Israel continues its provocations, Iran will escalate. However, Araghchi extended a sliver of diplomatic hope, stating that Iran would halt retaliatory attacks if Israel ended its aggression. He urged the international community to intervene immediately, not only to prevent further bloodshed but to salvage the diplomatic track—particularly nuclear negotiations mediated by Oman that have now been pushed to the brink.
The stakes are higher than ever. Iran warns that targeting the Persian Gulf’s fragile geopolitical equilibrium could ignite a conflict far beyond the region. “The Gulf is a powder keg,” Araghchi warned, “and one wrong move could set the entire world ablaze.”
As Iran prepares for what could be a prolonged confrontation, it is clear that the road to peace now runs through not only Tel Aviv and Tehran but Washington as well. And with nuclear diplomacy at a standstill, the world watches nervously as another regional crisis teeters on the edge of global war.
