Tehran: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday warned that any US military action against Iran would escalate into a wider regional conflict, as tensions continue to rise between Washington and Tehran.
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According to Iranian state media, Khamenei dismissed recent threats from US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly warned of intervention if Iran fails to reach a nuclear agreement or halt the killing of protesters. The United States has also significantly increased its naval presence in the Middle East.
“[Trump] regularly says that he brought ships. The Iranian nation shall not be scared by these things,” Khamenei said. “We are not the initiators and do not want to attack any country, but the Iranian nation will strike a strong blow against anyone who attacks and harasses them.”
Despite the sharp rhetoric, Tehran signalled that diplomacy remains possible, stating it is ready for “fair” negotiations, provided its defensive capabilities are not restricted.
The US Navy currently has six destroyers, one aircraft carrier, and three littoral combat ships deployed in the region.
Meanwhile, protests that erupted in late December over economic hardships — later evolving into the most serious political challenge to the Islamic Republic since 1979 — have largely subsided following a security crackdown. Official figures place the death toll at 3,117, while US-based rights group HRANA claims at least 6,713 fatalities, figures that Reuters could not independently verify.
Khamenei described the unrest as a “coup,” alleging that the so-called “sedition” aimed to undermine the country’s governing institutions.
