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Iran’s military said Wednesday it could launch strikes against economic targets linked to the United States and Israel across the region after overnight attacks reportedly struck a bank in Tehran.
“The enemy has given us free rein to target economic centres and banks belonging to the United States and the Zionist regime,” Iran’s central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, said in a statement carried by state television.
The statement urged people across the region to stay away from such facilities.
“People should refrain from going within 1 kilometer of banks,” it said.
Iranian media reported that U.S. and Israeli strikes hit a bank in northern Tehran overnight, killing an unspecified number of employees.
According to state media, several staff members were inside the building preparing month-end salary payments when the attack occurred.
A military spokesperson described the strike as an “illegitimate and unconventional act of war,” warning that it gives Iran the right to target economic centres and banks belonging to the United States and Israel.
“The Americans should await our painful retaliatory action,” the spokesperson said.
He also urged people in countries hosting U.S. or Israeli banks to “stay out of a one-kilometre radius of these facilities.”
The developments come as tensions remain high following the U.S. and Israeli military campaign against Iran launched on Feb. 28.
According to Iranian authorities, the strikes have killed more than 1,200 people, including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior military officials, and injured more than 10,000 others.
Funeral ceremonies for several senior commanders killed in the attacks, including former Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Pakpour, former armed forces chief of staff Abdolrahim Mosavi and former Defense Council chief Ali Shamkhani, were scheduled to take place in Tehran on Wednesday.
Iran has responded with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq and several Gulf countries hosting U.S. military assets.
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