Iran has already developed a range of options to retaliate for strikes from Israel or the United States, potentially plunging the region into deeper turmoil

Iran has limited options to respond directly. The danger, however, is that Israel has opened a Pandora’s box: the worst Iranian response might also be the most likely—a decision to withdraw from its arms control commitments and build nuclear weapons in earnest.

Follow live updates as Iran retaliates after Israel strikes nuclear facilities. Stay informed with real-time news and developments.

As tensions escalate, Iran has developed a range of calculated options to retaliate if attacked, raising the stakes for the entire region.

Commanders have promised to unleash ‘hell’ on Israel but their options for retaliation carry considerable risk

Israel struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear, missile and military complex early Friday, in an unprecedented attack that reportedly killed three of Iran’s most powerful figures and plunges the wider Middle East into dangerous new territory.

Iran appears ready to retaliate if it faces too much pushback. It says this could be “proportionate,” although that leaves many options open.

Shapiro served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East until January—charged with, among other things, considering scenarios in which tensions between Israel and Iran escalated into all-out war and preparing U.

Gordon also argued that Trump was manipulated into supporting Israel’s strikes by Netanyahu, even as Trump celebrated Israel’s killing of Iranian hardliners, noting that several of Trump’s senior advisors have urged restraint rather than intervention.

Iran launched dozens of ballistic missiles toward Israel on Friday night in retaliation for Israel's surprise attack early Friday. Israel struck at the heart of the Iran's nuclear program, killing several nuclear scientists as well as high-ranking military leaders,

Israel changed the face of the Middle East by launching an unprecedented attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities and killing a slew of senior Iranian commanders. Iran retaliated with a massive drone and missile strike on Israel.