Iran has suffered a blow in Israeli attacks on June 13. For the Islamic Republic, the first blow is public humiliation that it is vulnerable to these strikes. After years of boasting and talking about its air defenses and capabilities, the Iranian regime has been shown to be unable to defend Iran’s airspace.

It has also not been able to defend key individuals in Tehran, as photos on social media show that buildings appear to have been struck. Iran’s nuclear program is scattered across the country in numerous sites, but the regime will also have to be concerned about protecting these sites now.

As Iran contemplates its options, it will have to weigh how to respond. It has many options and has often threatened that its response could target US and other interests in the region. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said America is not involved. Iran may take this at face value, but it could also choose to lash out.

Here is a list of several ways Iran might respond.

Proxy attacks

Iran has many proxies in the region. These include the Houthis in Yemen as well as militias in Iraq. Iran’s other proxies include Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorist groups such as Islamic Jihad. These groups have been weakened due to the war that they launched on October 7. Hezbollah is much weaker than it was.
People gather in the street near an emergency vehicle in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 13, 2025. (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)
People gather in the street near an emergency vehicle in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 13, 2025. (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)
However, even though they are weaker, the Iranian proxies continue to pose a threat. Iraqi militias have access to long range attack drones. They have also reportedly received ballistic missiles from Iran over the last seven years. This means they can carry out attacks targeting Israel, as they have done in the past. The Houthis also have ballistic missiles as well as cruise missiles and drones.

The proxies can also be mobilized to attack what Iran perceives as Israeli allies. They could attack US forces or the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq. The proxies extend Iran’s options across the region. They also give Tehran access to networks abroad. Hezbollah, for instance, has networks that extend to South America and West Africa.

Ballistic missiles and drones

Iran has used ballistic missiles and drones in attacks against Israel. It used hundreds of them in attacks in 2024. The missiles have the capability to reach Israel and they have become more precise over the years. Tehran has sought to extend the range and abilities of these missiles.

Iran has also improved the abilities of its long-range drones. These "kamikaze" drones carry a warhead and can be pre-programmed with a long flight path. They are also relatively precise. Iran has exported its Shahed 136 drones to Russia to attack Ukraine. This has also enabled Iran to work with foreign countries to improve the drones.

Tehran has a large number of missiles of varying types, both solid- and liquid-fueled. Some of them can be deployed quickly, others take time. They can also be used in secretive ways, by placing them in shipping containers or other methods to conceal them before use. Iran could move these systems to Iraq, using its proxies, to target Israel. Iran has been cut off from Syria because of the now-defunct Assad regime, preventing it from moving missiles to Israel's northeastern neighbor.

Iran’s naval and “asymmetric” threats

Iran has a conventional navy as well as an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy. The IRGC navy consists of smaller vessels and fast boats that do not have a long range. In some cases, they can be deployed from a mother ship that may operate at a longer range. Iran's conventional navy has several ships, but in general, the navy is not very large.

The Islamic Republic has practices putting drones, and missiles and other systems on its ships. It has also been able to use ships in the past to conduct attacks on shipping, such as mining ships or using drones to target commercial vessels.

The country could decide to use its navy to attack ships in the Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Oman, and can attack ships using drones. It could also encourage the Houthis in Yemen to conduct similar attacks. Iran and the Houthis have done this in the past.

The fact that a large amount of the world’s shipping passes near the Gulf, and that the oil and energy trade is located near Iran, gives Tehran many soft targets of opportunity. It could target ships it claims are linked to Israel or create a shipping crisis to try to get countries to pressure the Jewish state.

Iran also has other types of what could be termed “asymmetric” threats. This means using terrorist groups or using commercial ships to deploy Iranian drones, missiles, or special forces. It has operated a shadow war against Israel for many years and has partners and allies from Beirut in Lebanon to Sana’a in Yemen, a regional arc stretching thousands of miles across the region.

Foreign terror plots

Iran could also try to retaliate via plots in other countries. In the past, it has sought to target Israel or Israelis in numerous countries around the world. This has included plots in Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus, as well as in South America, Europe, and countries in Asia. Iran has several decades of experience conducting foreign terrorist operations. This has included murdering dissidents in Europe and working with Hezbollah around the world to spread terror.

Tehran continues to have access to networks of terrorists around the world. Hezbollah also has these networks. While Iran has lost out on some of its power in the Middle East, it continues to enjoy support and access to networks on the ground in many places. This includes in Iraq, where it has groups such as Kataib Hezbollah, which have targeted US bases there and in the Kurdistan region.

Iran’s conventional army

Iran has an army, air force, and navy. However, it has generally starved its conventional army of resources. This means that it doesn’t have a very large air force or navy. Iran has also been under sanctions, so it has not been able to acquire modern warplanes or ships, but has preferred instead to invest in missiles, drones, and other capabilities.

Iran's army is not likely something it would use to respond because of the long distance to Israel. Israel’s capabilities to detect any kind of movement by Iran’s conventional forces mean that Iran is at a disadvantage using these units. Nevertheless, it could use them in the Persian Gulf or to target US bases in Iraq, for instance.

Iran’s diplomatic power

Tehran has invested heavily in diplomacy in recent years. It has worked on closer ties with Russia and China. It has strong ties with Pakistan and decent ties with India. It has joined economic blocs such as BRICS and the SCO. As such, Iran is well positioned to use diplomacy against Israel.

Iran has better ties with the Gulf than in the past and also close ties with both Turkey and Qatar, who are US allies. Iran’s foreign minister has travelled frequently in the region and was in Oslo on June 11. Iran is therefore well placed to try to play the victim and leverage the Israeli attacks in international forums for its benefit. The Islamic regime may use this as an excuse to show it needs more defensive systems from China or Russia.