Iran Warns of ‘Decisive Response’ to US Reaction to Jordan Attack

On Wednesday, Iran issued a stern warning of a decisive response to any American attack on its territory. This statement follows U.S. President Joe Biden’s suggestion that Iran was linked to the recent killing of three American soldiers at a military base in Jordan.

The United States has indicated its readiness for retaliatory actions in the Middle East following a drone strike on Sunday, which injured over 40 troops at Tower 22, a key U.S. base in northeastern Jordan. However, there’s concern that further U.S. military action could escalate tensions in a region already affected by Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza and the ongoing Red Sea attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on maritime shipping.

A U.S. Navy destroyer in the Red Sea recently intercepted a Houthi-launched anti-ship missile, continuing a pattern of attacks on U.S. forces patrolling this vital trade route.

Iran’s UN Ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, addressed Iranian journalists in New York, as reported by the IRNA news agency. Iravani emphasized Iran’s readiness to respond decisively to any assault on the nation, its interests, or its citizens. He did not elaborate on the nature of the potential response. The Iranian mission to the U.N. has not provided further details on his comments.

Iravani also refuted reports of recent communications between Iran and the U.S., dismissing claims by Al Jazeera of such exchanges.

Iranian officials, including Revolutionary Guard commander Gen. Hossein Salami, have taken note of U.S. threats of retaliation. Salami asserted that Iran is prepared to respond to any threats and is unafraid of war, though they are not seeking conflict.

Following a U.S. drone strike in 2020, Iran’s air defenses have been on high alert. This has raised concerns for commercial aviation over Iran, recalling the incident where Iranian air defenses mistakenly downed a Ukrainian passenger plane, resulting in 176 fatalities.

The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have continued their assaults in the Red Sea, targeting U.S. warships. The latest attack was on the USS Gravely, but it resulted in no injuries or damage. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for this attack and previous ones, though some claims have been exaggerated or unverified.

The Houthis, who have been targeting ships in the Red Sea since November, often attack vessels with no clear links to Israel, endangering shipping in a key global trade route. A recent missile attack by the Houthis set a commercial vessel ablaze.