Iran's Defence Minister, Aziz Nasirzadeh, issued a stark warning today: "If conflict is imposed on us… all U.S. bases are within our reach, and we will boldly target them in host countries" , he said, underscoring Tehran's readiness to escalate if diplomacy fails. His comments come ahead of the sixth round of Iran‑U.S. nuclear talks, scheduled for this week in Oman.

This show of force follows Iran's successful missile test carrying a two‑ton warhead and its unveiling of the advanced solid‑fueled "Qassem Basir" MRBM. President Trump has threatened military action if negotiations collapse and has expressed waning confidence in sealing a deal.

As tensions flare, the U.S. has evacuated non-essential personnel from embassies in Iraq, Bahrain, and Kuwait, and authorized dependents’ voluntary departure amid concerns of regional escalation . Oil markets remain volatile, with Brent crude repeatedly swinging in response to the threat of conflict .

The diplomatic standoff now holds the balance: will the Oman talks avert military confrontation - or will Iran's warning lead to a dangerous escalation across the region?