Khamenei Warns US Strike Would Ignite Regional War

Khamenei Warns US Strike Would Ignite Regional War

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any US military attack on Iran would trigger a wider regional war, as Washington continues to reinforce its military presence in the Middle East.

“The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war,” Khamenei said, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. He dismissed US naval deployments as intimidation tactics, saying Iran would not be frightened by aircraft carriers or warships sent to the region.

The warning comes as President Donald Trump said Iran was engaged in “serious discussions” with the United States and that he hoped negotiations would produce an “acceptable” outcome. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi echoed cautious optimism, telling CNN he was “confident that we can achieve a deal” on Tehran’s nuclear programme — while admitting trust in Washington had been badly damaged.

Araghchi said indirect talks via regional intermediaries were continuing, despite US threats of military action over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its violent crackdown on anti-government protests. Trump has warned Tehran it must abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons and halt the killing of protesters to avoid US intervention.

The US has moved the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and additional naval assets into the Arabian Sea. Iran had been expected to stage live-fire naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil chokepoint, but an Iranian official later said no such drills were planned.

Tensions inside Iran remain high after deadly explosions in Bandar Abbas and Ahvaz, which authorities blamed on gas leaks. Meanwhile, human rights groups estimate more than 6,300 people have been killed since protests erupted in late December, with thousands more deaths under investigation.

Khamenei accused protesters of attacking state institutions and declared the unrest “suppressed,” even as international pressure on Tehran intensifies.

Key Takeaways

• Khamenei warned a US attack would trigger a regional war, not a limited conflict.

• Washington is building up military forces as indirect nuclear talks continue.

• Iran’s deadly protest crackdown remains a central flashpoint, alongside nuclear tensions.

SOURCE: BBC