Tehran issues nuclear ultimatum as U.S.-Israeli air campaign escalates

WEB DESK: A senior Iranian military official has issued a chilling warning that the Dimona nuclear reactor in Israel’s Negev desert will be targeted if the United States and Israel attempt to forcibly topple the government in Tehran.

According to Shafaq News- Tehran, the official declared that a “regime change” strategy would trigger a catastrophic retaliatory strike using Iran’s “final effective missiles,” aimed not only at Israel’s primary nuclear research centre but also at the entirety of the Middle East’s energy infrastructure. “This is a scenario we have already prepared for,” the official added, signalling that Iran is ready to execute a “scorched earth” policy across the region’s oil and gas hubs should the existence of its leadership be threatened.

Mixed messages from the U.S. on regime change in Iran

The threat comes amidst a backdrop of conflicting signals from Washington as the military campaign against Iran enters its second week. While the U.S. Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has attempted to frame the ongoing bombardment as a targeted operation to degrade military capabilities rather than a “regime change war,” his rhetoric has been undermined by direct appeals from the Oval Office. As the conflict commenced on February 28, President Donald Trump explicitly urged the Iranian population to “take over your government” once the air strikes conclude, describing the current chaos as “probably your only chance for generations” to overthrow the ruling establishment.

Military analysts suggest that the targeting of the Dimona facility long the cornerstone of Israel’s undeclared nuclear programme represents the highest rung on Iran’s escalatory ladder. By tethering the safety of the reactor and the stability of global energy markets to the survival of the state, Tehran is attempting to create a “deterrence of despair.” With the Strait of Hormuz already facing severe disruptions and global oil prices in a state of flux, the prospect of a direct strike on nuclear and energy infrastructure has raised fears of an environmental and economic catastrophe that could ripple far beyond the borders of the Middle East.