If US attacks, Iran says it will strike US bases in Middle East
REUTERS
Sat, February 7, 2026 at 2:31 PM UTC
2 min read
Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Key takeaways
Powered by Yahoo Scout. Yahoo is using AI to generate key points from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
- Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran will strike US bases in the Middle East if attacked by American forces in the region, not targeting the countries hosting them.
- Both Iran and the US have expressed readiness to continue indirect nuclear talks, with no set date for the next round of negotiations yet.
- Araghchi emphasized that Iran only discusses its nuclear issue with the US and will not engage in dialogues involving threats or pressure, while also highlighting Iran's stance on uranium enrichment and missile development.
See more
"It would not be possible to attack American soil, but we will target their bases in the region,” Araghchi said.
While a strike on US soil is impossible, Iran will strike US bases in the Middle East if it is attacked by the American forces that have massed in the region, its foreign minister said on Saturday, insisting that this should not be seen as an attack on the countries hosting them.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke to Qatari Al Jazeera TV a day after Tehran and Washington pledged to continue indirect nuclear talks following what both sides described as positive discussions on Friday in Oman.
Advertisement
Advertisement
While Araghchi said no date had yet been set for the next round of negotiations, US President Donald Trump said they could take place early next week. "We and Washington believe it should be held soon,” Araghchi said.
Trump has threatened to strike Iran after a US naval buildup in the region, demanding that it renounce uranium enrichment, a possible pathway to nuclear bombs, as well as stop ballistic missile development and support for armed groups around the region. Tehran has long denied any intent to weaponise nuclear fuel production.
While both sides have indicated readiness to revive diplomacy over Tehran's long-running nuclear dispute with the West, Araghchi balked at expanding the talks.
"Any dialog requires refraining from threats and pressure. (Tehran) only discusses its nuclear issue ... We do not discuss any other issue with the US," he said.
Araghchi says Iran will attack US bases in Middle East if targeted
Last June, the US bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, joining in the final stages of a 12-day war. Tehran has since said it has halted uranium enrichment activity.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Its response at the time included a missile attack on a US base in Qatar, which maintains good relations with both Tehran and Washington.
In the event of a new US attack, Araghchi said the consequences could be similar.
"It would not be possible to attack American soil, but we will target their bases in the region,” he said.
“We will not attack neighboring countries; rather, we will target US bases stationed in them. There is a big difference between the two.”
Iran says it wants recognition of its right to enrich uranium, and that putting its missile programme on the negotiating table would leave it vulnerable to Israeli attacks.