Iran Warns of Retaliatory Strikes on US and Israeli Assets if Energy Infrastructure Targeted

Tehran [Iran], April 3: The spokesperson of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters on Friday issued a stern warning, emphasising that any assault on the country's bridges, power plants, or energy facilities will trigger severe retaliatory measures, reported state media Press TV.

"Any attack on Iran's bridges, power plants, or energy infrastructure will prompt strikes not only on all US and Israeli assets in the region and occupied territories but also on key holdings of US allies and host nations - harder and more devastating than before," the spokesperson declared. Iran-US War: Donald Trump Signals Strikes on Bridges, Electric Power Plants, Says ‘Military Hasn’t Even Started’.

The statement further cautioned nations hosting American military bases, urging them to reconsider their cooperation with US forces. "Countries hosting US bases must force American forces to leave if they want to stay safe," the spokesperson added.

This announcement comes amid growing regional tensions, with Tehran signalling it will take an uncompromising stance in protecting its critical infrastructure. The warning also underscores Iran's readiness to expand its countermeasures beyond immediate adversaries to include allied nations and host states of American military installations.

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, a key component of Iran's defence establishment, oversees major construction and military projects, including strategic infrastructure. Its recent statement serves as a clear message that attacks on Iran's essential facilities will not be tolerated, and that any foreign powers involved could face far-reaching consequences.

The US-Israel and Iran war has entered the second month now with ambiguity over when the war would end. Trump administration has repeatedly said that the war will end in weeks and not months but the ground reality remains different.

Earlier, a second US fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet was struck and downed over central Iran by a modern air-defence system of the Islamic Republic's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with officials saying the pilot is unlikely to have ejected, Iranian state media reported on Friday.

According to state media Press TV, citing a statement attributed to the Spokesman of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, it was claimed the jet was downed by a new IRGC Aerospace Force air-defence system.

It further stated that the impact and crash generated a "massive explosion" that made pilot survival unlikely.

"A second US fifth-generation F-35 was struck and downed over central Iran by a new IRGC Aerospace Force air-defence system. Given the massive explosion on impact and during the crash, the pilot is unlikely to have ejected," Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters Spokesman stated as quoted by Press TV.

The same claims were made by the Central Headquarters of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), as reported by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), stating that the advanced stealth aircraft was shot down by the IRGC's modern air defence system from the Lakenheath squadron. Global Crude Oil Jumps: Donald Trump’s Iran Military Strike Warning Sparks Sharp Rise in Brent and WTI Prices.

"The second US F-35 fifth-generation fighter jet was hit and crashed in the central Iranian sky by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' modern air defence system from the LAKEN-HEATH squadron. Due to the severe explosion of the fighter jet upon impact and fall, it is unlikely that the pilot ejected," PBUH stated as reported by IRIB.

(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)