TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday warned that any US military strike on Iran would trigger a wider regional conflict, as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to rise.
State media quoted Khamenei as dismissing repeated threats by US President Donald Trump, who has ordered a significant buildup of American naval forces in the Middle East while pressing Iran to agree to a nuclear deal and halt its crackdown on protesters.
“America keeps talking about bringing warships, but the Iranian nation will not be frightened by such moves,” Khamenei said. “We are not the initiators of conflict and do not seek to attack any country, but if anyone harasses or strikes Iran, they will face a strong response.”
Iranian officials have said diplomacy remains possible, stressing their willingness to engage in what they described as fair negotiations, provided Iran’s defensive and missile capabilities are not restricted.
The US Navy currently maintains a heavy presence in the region, including an aircraft carrier, several destroyers and littoral combat ships, according to American officials.
Meanwhile, Khamenei again blamed foreign powers for the wave of protests that erupted in late December over economic hardship before evolving into the most serious political unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Official figures place the death toll at more than 3,000, while a US-based rights group has reported a significantly higher number — claims that could not be independently verified.
Khamenei described the demonstrations as a “coup-style sedition,” accusing hostile forces of attempting to undermine the state by attacking key institutions.