Iran announces new response plan for potential future attacks from U.S. and Israel

What This is

• A senior Iranian security official, Mohsen Rezaei, said Iran has a “new operational plan” if the U.S. or Israel resumes attacks, and warned it would be more devastating than before.
• Rezaei said Iran would not respond according to the “rules” the U.S. and Israel expect, signaling a shift toward less predictable retaliation.
• Rezaei specifically threatened U.S.-linked tech infrastructure in the Gulf region, including undersea cables, data centers, and artificial-intelligence facilities near the UAE and the Strait of Hormuz.
• An Israeli report said Iran threatened to devastate Israel if Israeli strikes hit Iranian energy sites.
• Commercial ships around the Arabian Peninsula reported attacks or approaches by small boats and projectiles, and Saudi Arabia reported intercepting missiles over the Red Sea.
• Iran’s foreign minister said Tehran would respond within days to a U.S. peace proposal through mediators, even as U.S. reporting said the Pentagon was directed to prepare military options.

Why This Matters

• Threats around the Strait of Hormuz raise the odds of a wider U.S.-Iran-Israel clash.
• Attacks or fear of attacks in sea lanes can disrupt global energy and goods shipping even without a full war.
• Targeting data centers and undersea cables could spread conflict into internet and cloud services that daily life depends on.
• As each side hints it may ignore past limits, the risk grows that a single strike or mistake triggers escalation.