‘A historic nightmare’: Iran considering 13 ‘revenge scenarios’ against US
Iranian security council moves to deny earlier claims about retribution plans

Tehran is reportedly considering 13 different “revenge scenarios” in response to the US assassination of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.
Addressing a meeting of his government’s National Security Council shortly after the killing, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said that any violent response would take the form of “a direct and proportional attack on American interests” carried out by Iranian forces, The New York Times reports.
The announcement marks a “startling departure for the Iranian leadership”, which has “almost always cloaked its attacks behind the actions of proxies it had cultivated around the region”, the US newspaper adds.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
According to Reuters, the head of the security council, Ali Shamkhani, has reportedly stated that 13 “revenge scenarios” are being considered by the Ayatollah, who is said to have had a close relationship with Soleimani.
Even the weakest option would prove “a historic nightmare for the Americans”, said Shamkhani, in quotes reported by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency.
The SNSC later denied that Shamkhani had given the interview, with SNSC secretariat saying: “A local paper yesterday committed a criminal act and attributed an interview to the SNSC’s secretary which had not taken place. Legal action is underway to understand how and and why the interview was produced and published.”
The SNSC’s claims that the interview did not take place have not been proven.
In a separate warning, a senior advisor to the supreme leader has said that the US will face “another Vietnam” if American forces do not leave the region, according to Newsweek.
Donald Trump has responded to the threats by warning that the US may attack 52 Iranian targets if Tehran retaliates for the killing of Soleimani, who died in an air strike on Iraq last Friday.
The US president claims the targets include sites of cultural importance to the Gulf nation - despite experts warning that such attacks could constitute war crimes if carried out.
Soleimani, who was considered to be the second-most powerful man in Iran, is being buried today in his home town of Kerman. Millions of mourners are “already estimated to have packed the streets for funeral processions” in Tehran and other Iranian cities over the past few days, the BBC reports.
Crowds in the capital yesterday chanted “death to America” and “death to Trump”.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
See the bright lights from these 7 big-city hotels
The Week Recommends Immerse yourself in culture, history and nightlife
-
Scientists want to regrow human limbs. Salamanders could lead the way.
Under the radar Humans may already have the genetic mechanism necessary
-
Sudoku medium: June 25, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
How far would Russia go for Iran?
Today's Big Question US air strikes represent an 'embarrassment, provocation and opportunity' all rolled into one for Vladimir Putin
-
How the Israel-Iran conflict broke out
The Explainer Israel's strike on Iran's nuclear and missile programmes was years in the planning
-
Will the UK get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict?
Today's Big Question Keir Starmer is 'walking a tightrope' in helping Israel limit Tehran's nuclear capabilities without being seen to do so
-
What happens if Israel attacks Iran?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Israel is 'ready to strike' and Tehran has plans for counterattacks against the US as nuclear talks appear deadlocked
-
How will the MoD's new cyber command unit work?
Today's Big Question Defence secretary outlines plans to combat 'intensifying' threat of cyberattacks from hostile states such as Russia
-
Is Israel finally feeling the heat on Gaza?
Today's Big Question Benjamin Netanyahu allows aid to resume amid mounting international pressure and growing internal turmoil
-
Ukraine-Russia: is peace deal possible after Easter truce?
Today's Big Question 'Decisive week' will tell if Putin's surprise move was cynical PR stunt or genuine step towards ending war
-
The state of Britain's Armed Forces
The Explainer Geopolitical unrest and the unreliability of the Trump administration have led to a frantic re-evaluation of the UK's military capabilities