Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that Israel would strike Iran’s energy and civilian infrastructure if Iran were to attack Israel, the country’s latest threat to Tehran amid a sudden recent escalation of U.S.-Iran fighting.
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published September 3, 2026
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz issued one of his strongest warnings yet to Tehran on Thursday, declaring that any Iranian attack on Israel would remove what he described as Israel’s remaining constraints and could trigger strikes against Iran’s national, military and civilian infrastructure—including energy facilities.
Speaking at a Defense Ministry event ahead of the Jewish New Year, Katz warned that Israel was prepared to respond with overwhelming force if Iran launched an attack.
“An Iranian attack on Israel will free us from all constraints,” Katz said.
He added that Israel would strike Iranian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, and threatened to return Iran to “the Stone Age and darkness.”
Katz Warns Tehran Against a Retaliatory Attack
Katz said Israel is prepared for both defensive and offensive operations and that the Israel Defense Forces are ready to act.
The warning comes as Iran remains under severe economic and military pressure following months of conflict involving the United States and Israel. Katz argued that the pressure on Tehran, combined with fears of domestic unrest and a possible collapse of the regime, could push Iranian leaders toward what he called “desperate measures.”
Iran International likewise reported that Katz warned any Iranian attack would result in Israeli strikes on Iranian infrastructure, including energy sites.
Israel Points to Iran’s Internal Weakness
Katz’s warning was not limited to military capabilities. He also pointed to Iran’s deteriorating economic situation and growing fears of an uprising.
Iran International reported separately that economic hardship inside Iran has intensified, with inflation, shortages, unemployment and declining purchasing power adding pressure on the population. The outlet reported that Iranian authorities are preparing for the possibility of renewed unrest and have warned of a harsh response to another uprising.
That creates a potentially dangerous situation for Tehran: the government is facing pressure from outside while simultaneously attempting to prevent economic frustration from turning into another nationwide protest movement.
Tehran Faces Pressure on Multiple Fronts
The Israeli warning comes amid a wider escalation involving Iran, the United States and regional actors.
Iran has continued retaliatory attacks against U.S. positions in the region following recent American strikes. Reuters reported Thursday that Iran has also warned Washington that it could respond forcefully if Israel launches a major offensive against Iranian personnel and Hezbollah fighters positioned at the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon.
That warning adds another potential flashpoint to an already dangerous regional conflict.
A direct Iranian attack on Israel could therefore trigger a response not only against military installations but potentially against infrastructure that directly supports Iran’s economy.
Energy Infrastructure Becomes a Major Concern
Katz’s threat to target Iranian energy infrastructure has implications well beyond Iran and Israel.
Oil markets were already reacting to the worsening tensions Thursday. Reuters reported that Brent crude rose to around $97 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate climbed above $93, as renewed U.S. strikes and Israeli threats increased concerns about disruptions to Middle Eastern energy supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz remains particularly important. Shipping through the waterway has fallen substantially, with preliminary data showing only six commodity vessels transited on Wednesday compared with a 10-day average of about 13.
Any Israeli strike on Iranian energy infrastructure could therefore add another layer of uncertainty to an already strained global energy market.
🧩 Bottom Line:
Israel’s latest warning represents a significant escalation in rhetoric. Katz is no longer speaking only about retaliation against Iranian military targets; he is explicitly threatening national, civilian and energy infrastructure if Iran attacks Israel.
That message puts Tehran on notice that an Iranian strike could produce consequences far beyond the immediate battlefield. At the same time, Iran’s warnings over southern Lebanon show that Tehran is also prepared to respond if Israeli military operations threaten Iranian personnel or its Hezbollah ally.
The danger now is that the region is entering a cycle where every retaliatory move creates the justification for an even larger response. With oil prices already rising and the Strait of Hormuz under pressure, another major exchange between Israel and Iran could quickly become not only a military crisis, but a global economic shock.
SOURCES: NEWSMX – Israel’s Katz Threatens Broad Retaliation If Iran Attacks Israel
BUSINESS RECORDER – Israel’s Katz threatens broad retaliation if Iran attacks Israel
IRAN INTERNATIONALE – Israel’s Katz says Iran attack would bring strikes to return it to ‘Stone Age’
THE TIMES OF ISRAEL – Iran has warned US it will respond forcefully to any Israeli offensive on south Lebanon ridge
