Tehran, March 21 — Iran has warned it could expand retaliatory strikes to include recreational and tourist locations worldwide, its top military spokesman said, prompting concern about asymmetric attacks beyond the Middle East.
General Abolfazl Shekarchi cautioned that parks, recreational areas and tourist destinations would not be safe for Iran’s adversaries, signaling a potential broadening of targets as Tehran seeks to increase pressure on opponents.
The warning comes amid an uptick in Iranian attacks on energy infrastructure in Gulf Arab states following an earlier Israeli strike on Iran’s South Pars offshore natural gas field. In a recent operation, two waves of drones struck Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery early on Friday, touching off a fire. The Mina Al-Ahmadi facility can process roughly 730,000 barrels per day and is among the largest refineries in the region.
Iran also pushed back against comments from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggesting Washington might ease restrictions on Iranian oil. Oil Ministry spokesperson Saman Ghoddoosi wrote on social media that Iran currently has no surplus crude on the water or available for international markets, and characterized the US statement as offering undue hope to potential buyers.
Separately, Iran issued a stern warning to the United Arab Emirates, saying it would target Ras al-Khaimah if Iranian Gulf islands were attacked again from UAE territory. A spokesperson cited by Iran’s Tasnim news agency warned that, in the event of repeated encroachment from UAE sources, Iran’s armed forces would strike Ras al-Khaimah with crushing blows.
The contested Iranian islands lie close to the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes. Earlier this month the UAE said it intercepted a drone, with debris falling in the al-Hamra village area of Ras al-Khaimah.
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