Iran Warns of ‘Zero Restraint’ if Infrastructure Targeted, Signals Readiness for Regional Dialogue

Tehran, March 2026 : Seyed Abbas Araghchi has warned that Iran will respond with “zero restraint” if its critical infrastructure is targeted, amid escalating tensions with Israel and the United States.

In a series of posts on X, Araghchi claimed that Tehran possesses intelligence indicating Israeli plans to strike Iranian infrastructure. He stressed that while Iran does not initiate attacks during diplomatic engagements, it will respond forcefully if provoked. “Iranians do not sneak-attack adversaries while engaged in dialogue. Only when attacked do we powerfully respond,” he said, underlining the country’s defensive posture.

Reiterating his warning, the Foreign Minister made it clear that any future strike on Iran’s infrastructure would trigger a strong and immediate retaliation. He also referenced recent Iranian responses to attacks on its facilities, stating that the country had used only a fraction of its military capability. According to him, Iran had exercised restraint in the past out of respect for international calls for de-escalation, but cautioned that such restraint should not be expected again if similar incidents occur.

Araghchi further emphasised that any potential resolution to the ongoing conflict must include accountability for damage caused to Iran’s civilian infrastructure, highlighting the need for broader considerations beyond military outcomes.

The heightened rhetoric follows a sharp escalation in hostilities after joint strikes by the United States and Israel on multiple Iranian locations, including Tehran. The attacks reportedly resulted in significant casualties among senior officials and civilians, prompting Iran to launch retaliatory missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli positions and US-linked assets across the region.

Amid the rising tensions, Masoud Pezeshkian struck a more conciliatory tone, emphasising that Iran does not seek conflict with other Muslim nations. In a message marking Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz, he reiterated that Iran views Islamic countries as “brothers” and has no intention of engaging in disputes with them.

Pezeshkian attributed recent tensions with some regional states to the actions of the United States and Israel, while expressing Tehran’s willingness to resolve differences through dialogue. He proposed the formation of a regional security framework led by Muslim nations, aimed at ensuring peace, stability, and cooperation in the Middle East without reliance on external powers.

He added that Iran remains open to engaging with its neighbours to address concerns and strengthen ties, signalling a parallel diplomatic approach even as military tensions persist.

Together, the statements from Iran’s top leadership reflect a dual strategy—projecting firm deterrence against external threats while advocating for regional unity and dialogue—at a time when the Middle East faces heightened uncertainty and geopolitical strain.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)