Iran threatens ‘much more devastating’ retaliation if civilian targets hit.

Iran’s central military command has issued a strong warning that any further attacks on civilian targets would trigger a far more severe and expansive military response.

In a statement released on Monday, a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said Iran would not remain passive if civilian infrastructure or non-military facilities came under renewed attack. The military command stressed that any repetition of such strikes would be met with a significantly intensified retaliatory campaign.

According to the statement, Iranian authorities view attacks on civilian locations as a dangerous escalation that could widen tensions beyond conventional military confrontation. The warning suggested that Tehran is prepared to move beyond its current level of response if it believes its population, essential services, or public infrastructure are being deliberately targeted.

The latest remarks reflect growing tensions in the region, as both rhetoric and military posturing continue to rise. Iranian officials have repeatedly maintained that while the country is prepared to defend itself against external threats, any assault on civilian assets would cross a critical red line and invite broader consequences.

Military observers say such warnings are designed not only to deter direct attacks but also to signal Iran’s readiness to escalate if provoked. The language used by the military command indicates that any future retaliation could be larger in scale, wider in scope, and potentially aimed at shifting the strategic balance in the confrontation.

The warning came amid heightened friction following comments by United States President Donald Trump, who reportedly threatened to target Iran’s civilian infrastructure while pressing Tehran to accept conditions tied to regional maritime security and the reopening of Gulf shipping routes.

Iran has long regarded threats against its civilian infrastructure as unacceptable, particularly in light of the strategic importance of its energy facilities, transportation systems, and public service networks. Tehran has consistently argued that attacks on such assets would amount to a deliberate attempt to destabilize the country internally while increasing pressure externally.

Analysts believe the latest exchange of threats underscores the fragility of the current security environment in the Gulf and the wider Middle East. With tensions already running high, any direct strike on civilian targets could rapidly transform an already volatile standoff into a much broader regional conflict.

Iranian authorities have continued to frame their military posture as defensive, but they have also made it clear that retaliation would not be symbolic if they perceive a direct assault on non-military infrastructure. Officials in Tehran have increasingly emphasized that any future response would be calibrated to inflict a heavier cost on those they accuse of crossing established red lines.

The development is likely to heighten international concern over the possibility of further escalation, especially as global markets and diplomatic actors closely monitor the security of major shipping lanes in the Gulf. The region remains a vital corridor for global energy supplies and international trade, making any threat to its stability a matter of broad international significance.

As tensions persist, Iran’s latest warning serves as a clear message that attacks on civilian targets could provoke a new and more dangerous phase in the confrontation. The statement reinforces Tehran’s position that while military disputes may continue, any strike perceived as targeting ordinary citizens or critical civilian systems would trigger consequences far beyond the current level of hostilities.