What are Iran’s options as war goes on?

In March 2026, the United States and Israel have been conducting relentless attacks on Iran, resulting in the deaths of senior officials and thousands of airstrikes across the country. Iran has retaliated by targeting Israel and its Gulf neighbors, specifically energy facilities and supply routes. The program "Inside Story" on March 18, 2026, examined Iran's options in the face of these ongoing attacks. The discussion, led by Imran Khan, included insights from military and political analyst Elijah Magnier, University of Tehran professor Setareh Sadeqi, and Mehran Kamrava from the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, who specialize in Iranian studies. The program aimed to analyze Iran's potential responses to the continued US and Israeli aggression.

On March 18, 2026, Israel attacked facilities within Iran that belong to the world's largest natural gas field. This action represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two nations. In response, Iran has issued a threat to strike energy facilities located in the Gulf region. The motivation behind Israel's attack remains unspecified in the report. The location of the gas field within Iran was not disclosed.

Iran's Pars gas field, a major energy infrastructure site in the Gulf, was struck on Wednesday, marking the first reported attack on Iranian energy infrastructure during the US-Israeli war. The attack, allegedly carried out by Israel with US consent, caused a fire and prompted evacuations. In response, Iran threatened to retaliate with attacks on oil and gas targets throughout the Gulf region. The incident led to a surge in oil prices, with Brent crude rising approximately 5%, and a decline in stock markets. The Pars gas field is the Iranian portion of the world's largest natural gas deposit, shared with Qatar.