Iran warns of 'war flames' as US threatens strikes on energy sites

On August 1, General Ali Abdollahi, head of Iran's wartime operations command, warned that the US is accelerating the process of "igniting a comprehensive regional war." In his statement, he urged neighboring Islamic countries not to serve as a "defensive shield" for the US, asserting that any nation cooperating with Washington would "burn in the flames of war."

The warning came after major US media reported that Washington and Israel could soon launch a large-scale airstrike campaign against Iran's civilian infrastructure, including power plants and petrochemical facilities. According to unnamed sources, the operation could last up to two weeks, aiming to cut electricity in the capital Tehran and cause widespread disruption, though President Donald Trump has not yet given final approval.

Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on July 29 that Tel Aviv was "very keen to strike Iran's energy targets," but the US had not agreed due to fears that Iran would retaliate against neighboring countries, triggering a global oil crisis. He emphasized Israel's readiness to "push Iran back 40 years."

Iran's state-linked Tasnim news site quoted an unnamed source as saying that the country's armed forces have prepared comprehensive retaliation plans targeting "critical infrastructure" linked to the US and Israel. Tehran also warned it would continue to use the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic lever, saying any attack or blockade would only escalate tensions.

Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, warned that "the global economy, US energy markets, and American voters will pay the price" if tensions persist. Iran's foreign minister said the country has not sent an official negotiation request to Washington, but messages have been relayed through intermediaries, and discussions on reopening the strait are ongoing.

Since the war broke out on February 28, the US and Israel have struck Iran's military bases, leaders, and various civilian infrastructure, further straining an already weakened economy. On the night of July 30, US forces carried out airstrikes on at least five Iranian provinces, targeting IRGC command centers, missile facilities, and drone bases. The attacks killed several soldiers and civilians, including a 2-year-old boy on Qeshm Island.

The same day, Kuwait's military said it shot down several Iranian drones in its airspace, reporting damage to some government facilities and civilian vehicles. Off the coast of Oman, at least two ships were hit by missiles, with one vessel sustaining engine room damage. Iran said it had intercepted four other ships and warned that vessels without IRGC permission would not be allowed through the Strait of Hormuz.

In Iraq, drone attacks on Iranian Kurdish opposition groups continued. An oil refinery in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region, caught fire after being attacked. Earlier, the US and Saudi Arabia coordinated airstrikes on bases of Tehran-backed Iraqi armed forces, killing at least 20 gunmen and several IRGC advisers.

In southern Lebanon, Israeli forces continue to occupy large areas, destroying villages and infrastructure, and detonating structures believed to be Hezbollah facilities. Regarding Yemen, Saudi Arabia is seeking to form an international coalition to counter Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

Amid the spreading conflict, in remarks on August 1, Iranian Parliament Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf argued that Iran had "achieved victory" but needed to "consolidate and document" this success, calling for broader decision-making powers for the Office of the Supreme Leader in future matters. In Tehran, banners still carry messages of revenge for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed on the first day of the war along with dozens of other officials.