Iranian Official Declares All US and Israeli Bases in the Region 'Legitimate Targets' with 'No Red Lines' in Defending National Interests, as Tehran Reaffirms Focus on American and Zionist Assets While Sparing Neighbors Unless Attacked First
In a stark escalation of rhetoric amid the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran, Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of Iran's Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, declared on Saturday, March 7, 2026, that all American and Israeli bases across the Middle East are considered "legitimate targets" for Iranian forces. Posting on the US-based social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Azizi stated: “All Israeli and American bases in the region are legitimate targets for us in this war. Iran has no red lines when it comes to defending its national interests. The battle continues.”
This declaration underscores Tehran's unyielding stance in the conflict that erupted on February 28, 2026, when coordinated large-scale US and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian military, nuclear-related, and leadership sites. The initial assaults resulted in the confirmed death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, over 150 schoolgirls in collateral damage near a military facility, numerous senior military officials, and a total casualty figure exceeding 1,000 from Iranian sources and international reports.
Iran's response has involved sustained barrages of missiles and drones aimed at US military bases, diplomatic facilities, and personnel throughout the region—including in Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates—as well as strikes on multiple Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. These retaliatory actions have caused casualties among US troops (with reports of at least three killed and others wounded in base attacks), civilian deaths in Israel, and disruptions in Gulf states, including damage to infrastructure and temporary airport closures.
Complementing Azizi's hardline position, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters—affiliated with Iran's Armed Forces and closely tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps—issued a statement echoing and expanding on remarks from President Masoud Pezeshkian. The headquarters reaffirmed that Iran's military respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighboring countries and does not initiate aggression against them. “However, as a continuation of previous offensive actions, all military bases and assets of the criminal America and the fake Zionist regime on land, sea, and air in the region will be crushed as primary targets by the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and struck with severe blows,” the statement added.
President Pezeshkian, addressing the nation in a televised message, clarified that the Interim Leadership Council (established following Khamenei's death to manage governance amid the leadership vacuum) had decided to suspend missile strikes or attacks on neighboring territories unless Iran itself faces attacks originating from those countries. Pezeshkian personally apologized to regional neighbors for any unintended impacts from prior operations, emphasizing that Iran has “no intention of invading other countries” and seeks regional peace. He noted that previous actions targeted only US and Israeli-linked facilities and assets, not sovereign neighbors directly.
Major General Abulfazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for the Iranian General Staff, reinforced this calibrated approach by stating that no areas or entities not providing facilities or access to the US and Israel have been targeted—and will not be in the future. “Strikes against the US and the Zionist regime will continue,” he affirmed, signaling ongoing but focused retaliation.
These statements reflect internal Iranian dynamics in the second week of the war: a mix of defiant escalation against primary adversaries (US and Israel) and efforts to de-escalate with Gulf neighbors hosting American bases, amid concerns over broader regional fallout. Iranian officials have warned that any use of neighboring territories for attacks on Iran could render those sites legitimate targets, while Pezeshkian's apology and policy shift appear aimed at preventing a wider conflagration involving Arab states.
The conflict has seen Israel claim significant degradation of Iran's air defenses and missile capabilities, achieving partial air superiority, while US President Donald Trump has demanded Iran's unconditional surrender and warned of intensified operations. Casualties continue to mount on multiple fronts, with economic repercussions including surging oil prices due to threats to shipping lanes like the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's messaging balances aggressive defense of its "national interests" and sovereignty with assurances to avoid unnecessary expansion of the war, though the "no red lines" rhetoric from figures like Azizi highlights the high stakes and potential for further intensification if US-Israeli strikes persist. International observers monitor closely for risks of miscalculation drawing in additional actors. (
