Tehran moves to rename Argentina Square after Buenos Aires brands IRGC terrorist

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had launched attacks on what they described as US economic interests in the region and Israeli energy infrastructure, following strikes on civilian sites in Iran.

In a statement, the Guards said the first phase of the response had targeted “Zionist targets in the occupied territories and American economic interests in countries of the region.”

They listed the targets as a refinery in Haifa, gas facilities operated by ExxonMobil and Chevron in Habshan in the UAE, a petrochemical facility in Al Ruwais in the UAE, a petrochemical site in Sitra in Bahrain, and a petrochemical facility in Shuaiba in Kuwait.

The statement also included a direct warning of further escalation.

“If attacks on civilian targets are repeated, the second phase of this operation will be carried out in a much more crushing and extensive manner,” it said.

The Guards added: “We repeat once again: if you commit more aggression and strike civilian facilities, our responses will be more crushing.”

The statement framed the attacks as a response to what it described as strikes on a bridge in Karaj and the Mahshahr petrochemical complex.

Iran’s prosecutor’s office issued a warning to political figures and public personalities, saying they should not act or comment beyond their authority in ways that run against what it described as national interests, unity and social cohesion during the war.

The warning followed what it said were recent remarks and media comments by some political figures about domestic policy and major national issues.

It called on public figures to act within what it described as the national interest and to help preserve unity in the current sensitive conditions.

An Israeli source told Iran International that two Israeli commando units, Shaldag and Sayeret Matkal, took part in the operation to rescue the American pilot.

According to the source, the mission lasted about 36 hours.

The source also said a US helicopter came under fire during the operation but was able to return safely to base.

Mostafa Tajzadeh, a jailed reformist politician, said in an open letter from Evin Prison addressed to Donald Trump that Iranians would defend their country under any circumstances.

In the letter, made available to Ensaf News for publication, Tajzadeh said he opposed the war and warned that its continuation could turn into a full-scale tragedy for people who had no role in it.

He questioned why Trump had ordered an attack on Iran while negotiations were still under way and criticized threats to bomb civilian infrastructure, including power plants, water desalination facilities, bridges and refineries.

Tajzadeh also argued that such a strategy would violate international law, deepen anti-American sentiment and risk turning the conflict into a broader regional disaster.

Former Iranian official Mohammad Javad Larijani said the United States should accept defeat and argued that Washington’s proposals for negotiations reflected weakness rather than strength.

Larijani, a former senior judiciary official and adviser to the slain supreme leader, said the United States had to take responsibility for what he described as aggression against Iran and for the resulting damage.

He also said Iran should reconsider its nuclear commitments, pursue the issue outside negotiations, and press ahead on issues including the Strait of Hormuz and compensation.

He added that repeated calls for talks were an attempt by Washington to escape its current predicament and said any further miscalculation would be met with a forceful response.