US warns Iran against further attacks on Israel amid rising tensions

The Biden administration issued a stark warning to Iran, cautioning against any further attacks on Israel.

According to both U.S. and Israeli sources, the United States communicated that it would not be able to restrain Israel should Iran launch another offensive, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

This warning came after Iran’s October 1 assault on Israel, reportedly carried out in response to a series of Israeli assassinations. Israel responded to that incident by targeting Iranian military assets, carefully avoiding Iran's nuclear and oil infrastructure.

The U.S. delivered the warning directly to Iranian officials, an unusual move given the limited official communication channels between Washington and Tehran. Israeli officials reported that the message was also relayed through Swiss diplomatic channels, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. Both the White House and Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment on the direct exchange.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, responded strongly on Saturday, promising a "crushing response" to both the U.S. and Israel. Esmail Kowsari, a senior member of Iran’s parliamentary security committee, confirmed that Iran’s security council had finalized plans for a counterattack, though specifics on timing and scope are still undecided. Kowsari indicated that any future response would be in coordination with allied groups in the region, hinting at a potentially larger and more coordinated assault than the October 1 strike, which involved 180 ballistic missiles.

In anticipation of potential escalation, the Pentagon has been ramping up its defense presence in the Middle East. Pentagon spokesperson General Pat Ryder announced on Friday the deployment of additional missile defense assets, including fighter squadrons, tanker aircraft, and B-52 long-range strike bombers. "Secretary Austin has made it clear that any attack on American personnel or interests will be met with a decisive response," Ryder stated.

The recent round of U.S.-Israel coordination culminated on October 25, when Israel launched a major retaliatory strike against Iran. This response followed several weeks of strategic planning with Washington, during which both sides reportedly agreed to avoid targeting Iran’s oil and nuclear facilities.

According to Israeli and U.S. officials, Israel’s recent intelligence suggests that Iran may be planning a new assault using allied militias in Iraq, potentially to avoid direct retribution on Iranian soil. The planned operation, they noted, could involve a joint missile and drone attack on Israel.

While Iran appears poised to retaliate via proxy forces in Iraq, Israeli officials have warned that any attack—whether from Iran or allied groups—could prompt a new wave of Israeli strikes on Iranian assets. An Israeli source explained that the scale and impact of any attack on Israel would determine the extent of Israel’s response.

By Khagan Isayev