Iran's Supreme Leader Vows 'Regional War' if US Attacks Iran Amid Escalating Tensions
In a stark warning, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday stated that any attack by the United States would trigger a "regional war" in the Middle East. This comes as tensions between the two nations continue to escalate following President Donald Trump's recent threat to militarily strike Iran over its crackdown on nationwide protests.
Khamenei, who is 86 years old, made his comments during a speech at his compound in Tehran, just days after the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying warships arrived in the Arabian Sea. The US military presence has heightened tensions between the two nations, with Trump having repeatedly threatened to use force unless Iran agrees to negotiate.
The Iranian government has been cracking down on protests that began in December over economic grievances, resulting in the arrest of tens of thousands of people and a reported 6,713 fatalities. Khamenei referred to the protests as "a coup," further solidifying the government's position against the demonstrations.
Iran had also planned a live-fire military drill for Sunday and Monday in the Strait of Hormuz, which could potentially disrupt commercial traffic if the US interferes. The US military has warned against threatening American warships or aircraft during the drill.
Khamenei's comments are the most direct threat he has made regarding US involvement in the region. He stated that the Americans must be aware that "if they wage a war this time, it will be a regional war." If anyone shows aggression towards Iran, the Iranian nation "will deal a heavy blow" to them.
The supreme leader also reiterated that the recent protests were similar to a coup, with protesters targeting police, government centers, and mosques. The violence has sparked international condemnation, with the European Union declaring Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization.
In response, Iran declared all EU militaries as terrorist groups, citing the bloc's designation of the Revolutionary Guard as such. This move is largely symbolic, but reflects the deepening divisions between Iran and its Western allies.
The situation remains fluid, with Trump stating that Iran is "seriously talking" to the US regarding a potential deal to prevent nuclear proliferation. However, it remains unclear whether he will follow through on his threats or continue to pressure Iran through diplomatic channels.
As tensions continue to escalate, one thing is clear: the Middle East is bracing for a potential conflict, and the world holds its breath as it waits to see what happens next.
In a stark warning, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday stated that any attack by the United States would trigger a "regional war" in the Middle East. This comes as tensions between the two nations continue to escalate following President Donald Trump's recent threat to militarily strike Iran over its crackdown on nationwide protests.
Khamenei, who is 86 years old, made his comments during a speech at his compound in Tehran, just days after the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying warships arrived in the Arabian Sea. The US military presence has heightened tensions between the two nations, with Trump having repeatedly threatened to use force unless Iran agrees to negotiate.
The Iranian government has been cracking down on protests that began in December over economic grievances, resulting in the arrest of tens of thousands of people and a reported 6,713 fatalities. Khamenei referred to the protests as "a coup," further solidifying the government's position against the demonstrations.
Iran had also planned a live-fire military drill for Sunday and Monday in the Strait of Hormuz, which could potentially disrupt commercial traffic if the US interferes. The US military has warned against threatening American warships or aircraft during the drill.
Khamenei's comments are the most direct threat he has made regarding US involvement in the region. He stated that the Americans must be aware that "if they wage a war this time, it will be a regional war." If anyone shows aggression towards Iran, the Iranian nation "will deal a heavy blow" to them.
The supreme leader also reiterated that the recent protests were similar to a coup, with protesters targeting police, government centers, and mosques. The violence has sparked international condemnation, with the European Union declaring Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization.
In response, Iran declared all EU militaries as terrorist groups, citing the bloc's designation of the Revolutionary Guard as such. This move is largely symbolic, but reflects the deepening divisions between Iran and its Western allies.
The situation remains fluid, with Trump stating that Iran is "seriously talking" to the US regarding a potential deal to prevent nuclear proliferation. However, it remains unclear whether he will follow through on his threats or continue to pressure Iran through diplomatic channels.
As tensions continue to escalate, one thing is clear: the Middle East is bracing for a potential conflict, and the world holds its breath as it waits to see what happens next.
i mean, 86 years old ayatollah ali khamenei still spouting fire and blood but like seriously guys can't we just have a calm conversation about our differences? the us has threatened to attack and now they're saying it'll be a regional war... that's like, a whole different level of escalation 
i feel bad for the people caught in the middle of all this, especially those protesting for economic freedom. we should be supporting peaceful resolutions, not blowing things up 
Iran's actions are being pretty aggressive towards protesters and the EU is stepping in by declaring their paramilitary group a terrorist org 
but at the same time trump is saying they're "seriously talking" about a deal so we'll just have to wait and see what happens next 
Interesting!
. Like, a regional war? That's not even a possibility anymore 
. We're already seeing so much uncertainty and tension in the Middle East right now. And can we talk about how these tensions started because of economic grievances? 
It just seems like such a waste, you know? All this back-and-forth between nations and people on the ground are suffering 
The fact that Iran's Supreme Leader is now making direct threats against the US is just so concerning...what does this mean for the future? 
Can we get some real answers here?! 
and i'm not sure how much truth there is to trump's claims that iran is "seriously talking" about nuclear proliferation. it seems like more of a ploy to justify his aggressive stance towards iran.
.
and now they're cracking down on it, arresting people left and right? not cool 
the EU should do something about this, but i guess they're too busy with their own issues. 
at least Trump is talking to them, maybe they can work out a deal or something? 
but what if Iran just doesn't want it? that's when things get really bad 
and the world should be prepared for anything at this point. 
.
. let's hope the us & iran can find a way to talk things out and avoid a conflict 
.
maybe diplomacy will prevail and we'll see some progress on those nuke talks?
my heart goes out to those innocent ppl in Iran protesting 4 their rights 2 live peaceful lyfe... 
u can feel the anxiety n fear emanating frm both sides, like they're stuck in this toxic cycle of aggression & retaliation 
The world is definitely holding its breath right now... 
. It's like both sides are playing chicken on the road to disaster 
.
anyway, i'm kinda worried about iran's situation and the fact that they're cracking down on protests 
it sounds super unfair to all those people who are protesting for their rights 
i hope someone can shed some light on this for me 
the iranian government's not exactly known for its diplomacy 
meanwhile, the eu is trying to stay calm & diplomatic, but it's hard not to feel uneasy when all these big players are talking about military action