Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, May 5: Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh has issued a stark warning, stating that Iran will strike U.S. and Israeli troops, bases, and interests “wherever and whenever deemed necessary” if either nation initiates conflict with the Islamic Republic.

Speaking to Iran’s state-run IRIB news agency on Sunday, Nasirzadeh was responding to a recent statement by U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who warned Iran would "pay the consequence" for its alleged backing of Yemen's Houthi rebels.

"Iran possesses a vast missile arsenal and won’t hesitate to use it against regional targets if war is forced upon us," Nasirzadeh stated. He emphasized that any aggression by the U.S. or Israel would be met with a powerful and expansive retaliation.

The minister also criticized Washington's approach, accusing it of hypocrisy — calling for dialogue while continuing to issue threats. He defended Yemen as a sovereign nation acting independently, and advised the U.S. against stirring instability in West Asia.

Tensions escalated further on Sunday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation after a missile launched by Yemen’s Houthis struck Israel’s main international airport.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the Israeli Prime Minister's Office said, “Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran,” and warned that Israel “will respond… at a time and place of our choosing.”

The latest developments reflect a sharp uptick in regional hostilities, with Tehran and Tel Aviv locked in an increasingly volatile standoff fueled by ongoing conflicts and proxy engagements across the Middle East.