In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Iranian State Television has declared that all U.S. citizens and military personnel in the region are now considered “legitimate targets”, following a series of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. This chilling announcement, made by commentators on Iranian state media and echoed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), marks a perilous new phase in the already volatile relationship between Tehran and Washington.
The declaration comes just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces had launched “very successful” attacks on three key Iranian nuclear sites – Fordow, Natanz, and a facility near Isfahan. Trump stated that the objective was to “completely and totally obliterate” Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and halt what he described as a nuclear threat from the “world’s number one state sponsor of terror.” He warned Iran of “tragedy far greater” if it did not pursue peace.
Iranian state media, including the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and Tasnim News Agency, prominently featured the new threat, with one IRIB commentator stating that “every American citizen or military personnel in the region is now a target”. The IRGC, Iran’s elite military branch, also announced, “Now the war has begun for us”, signaling a direct response to the U.S. actions. A graphic displaying U.S. bases in the Middle East, reportedly within Iran’s “fire range”, was also aired on Iranian state television, further underscoring the severity of the threat.
The U.S. strikes represent a significant direct intervention by Washington into the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. For over a week, Israel has been conducting a sweeping military campaign against Iranian military and nuclear targets. Tehran had repeatedly warned of retaliation, with Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh stating on June 11 that “all U.S. bases are within our reach and we will boldly target them”.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry, through Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, condemned the U.S. attacks as “outrageous” and a “grave violation of the UN Charter, international law and the NPT.” Araghchi asserted that Tehran “reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people” and called for an emergency UN Security Council meeting to address what he termed “heinous attacks and illegal use of force”.
International reactions have been swift and largely condemnatory of the escalating violence. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed “grave alarm” at the “dangerous escalation”, warning of “catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world”. Saudi Arabia, a key regional player, urged “restraint” and called for a political solution.
In the U.S., President Trump’s decision to launch direct strikes has ignited a fierce debate in Congress. While Republicans largely praised his “decisive action,” many Democrats criticized the lack of congressional approval for military intervention, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stating, “No president should be allowed to unilaterally march this nation into something as consequential as war with erratic threats and no strategy.”
The direct targeting of U.S. personnel and civilians marks a dangerous new precedent in the decades-long animosity between Iran and the United States. With both sides drawing clear red lines and demonstrating a willingness to use military force, the prospects for de-escalation appear grim, raising fears of a broader regional conflagration with far-reaching global consequences.
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