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An Iranian lawmaker said Tehran would respond in kind if the United States used a nuclear weapon against Iran, commenting on a media report about the possibility of such an attack, local media reported Wednesday.
Fada Hossein Maleki, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, made the remarks in an interview with Iranian news outlet Khabar Online.
Asked how likely he considered a U.S. nuclear attack on Iran, Maleki said he did not rule out what he described as an “ill-considered action” by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“But I do not think he would dare to do such a thing, because such an action could plunge the world into a dangerous war,” Maleki said.
“If such an action is taken, the Islamic Republic of Iran will also respond, and its reaction will be proportionate to the type of weapon used against Iran,” he added.
Pressed on whether that meant Iran would use a nuclear weapon if the United States attacked Iran with one, Maleki replied: “Whatever the U.S. uses, Iran will respond to it.”
Maleki did not explicitly say that Iran possesses nuclear weapons.
The lawmaker also warned Washington against further military action, saying Iran has “multiple options” at its disposal and that any U.S. move could draw a response “at the same level or even beyond.”
“Many of Iran’s weapons and military capabilities have not yet been unveiled,” Maleki said.
He argued that Tehran has moved from a defensive posture to what he described as “active and offensive deterrence.”
Turning to stalled Tehran-Washington talks, Maleki accused Trump of failing to honor commitments under a memorandum of understanding between the two sides.
He said Iran would not return to negotiations unless Washington abides by its previous commitments, adding that issues including the Strait of Hormuz would remain unresolved otherwise.
Maleki said Iran’s talks with Oman are a separate bilateral track, adding that Tehran rejected U.S. participation in those discussions.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, warned Gulf states Wednesday against providing assistance to the U.S. military amid heightened regional tensions.
In a post on X, Abdollahi said countries on the southern shores of the Gulf that have publicly stated they would not allow Washington to use their territory against Iran “should know that nothing escapes our notice.”
He said the presence of large numbers of U.S. military aircraft, particularly aerial refueling tankers, at bases across the region was unlikely without the knowledge of host countries.
“We warn that any assistance or facilitation provided to the aggressor U.S. military will be considered participation alongside U.S. forces,” Abdollahi said.
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Iran and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding in mid-June under Pakistani mediation aimed at ending their war and paving the way for negotiations on a final agreement.
Talks have since stalled amid disputes over the implementation of the memorandum, including issues related to the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest tensions follow months of hostilities since the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, prompting Tehran to retaliate against U.S. and Israeli targets and U.S. assets across the region.
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