Iranian supreme leader warns of ‘regional war’ if US attacks Iran

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any military strike by the United States would not remain limited to Iran and could turn into a wider regional conflict, according to Iranian state media reports on Sunday, as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to rise.

His remarks came amid an increased US military presence in the Middle East, following repeated warnings from President Donald Trump that Washington could intervene if Iran does not agree to a nuclear deal or fails to halt the killing of protesters.

Referring to the US military buildup, Khamenei said that threats involving warships would not intimidate the country. “(Trump) regularly says that he brought ships (…) The Iranian nation shall not be scared by these things, the Iranian people will not be stirred by these threats,” he was quoted as saying.

He stressed that Iran does not seek confrontation but would respond forcefully if attacked. “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,” Khamenei said.

At the same time, Iranian officials have indicated that diplomacy is still possible, saying Tehran remains open to “fair” talks that do not undermine its defensive capabilities.

According to US officials, the American military presence in the region currently includes six destroyers, an aircraft carrier and three littoral combat ships.