By Suleman Chitera
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has warned that any military attack on Iran would trigger a wider regional conflict, amid a continued build-up of United States forces in the Middle East.
“The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war,” Khamenei was quoted as saying by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
The warning comes as Washington increases its military footprint near Iran. The US has deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the region, with US Central Command confirming late last week that the carrier strike group is operating in the Arabian Sea.
Despite the heightened military posture, US President Donald Trump said earlier that Iran was engaged in “serious discussions” with Washington and expressed hope that the talks would lead to an outcome that is “acceptable.” Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, has also indicated that a framework for negotiations is making progress.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated in recent months, with Trump repeatedly threatening intervention over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its deadly crackdown on anti-government protests.
Khamenei dismissed US military pressure, saying Iran would not be intimidated by shows of force. “[Trump] regularly says that he brought ships… The Iranian nation shall not be scared by these things,” he said.
Meanwhile, Iran is expected to begin a two-day live-fire naval exercise on Sunday in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping routes for global energy supplies. Approximately one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passes through the narrow waterway, which is about 33 kilometres wide at its narrowest point between Iran and Oman.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz if it comes under attack, a move that could severely disrupt global oil markets and escalate tensions across the region.
The latest developments underline the fragile state of relations between Tehran and Washington, as diplomatic signals continue alongside sharp rhetoric and military manoeuvres.
