TEHRAN: Iran's Supreme Leader warned the US that the conflict between the countries could escalate into a regional war, but Tehran is prepared to offer a "strong response." He also believes that the protests in the country were aimed at a coup.
The US previously stated that it reserves the right to launch a preemptive strike against Iran if the situation in the region gets out of control.
If the US unleashes a war, this time it will become regional, stated Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
"The US should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war," Khamenei said, according to the Tasnim news agency.
"The Americans should know that if they start a war this time, it will be a regional war," he said.
The recent unrest in Iran, which included pogroms and attacks, looked more like an attempted coup, but it was suppressed, Khamenei added. "Their goal was to destroy the country's important centers of governance," he said. The Iranian Supreme Leader also emphasized that Tehran does not want to attack any country, "but the Iranian people will give a strong response to anyone who is greedy and wants to attack and cause harm."
On January 28, US President Donald Trump announced that a "massive armada" led by the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was heading toward Iran. He said it was ready to carry out its mission, using force if necessary. Trump added that if Iran does not conclude the nuclear deal, it will face an attack even worse than Operation Midnight Hammer in June 2025.
A few days later, Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic, noted that Iran had made progress in organizing negotiations with the United States. At the same time, the White House expressed hope that the United States would be able to reach an acceptable deal with Iran.
At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran would not enter into direct negotiations with the United States unless President Donald Trump ceased his threats. He emphasized that his country was ready for both war and negotiations.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that it "keeps its finger on the trigger" and is "more prepared than ever to carry out the orders and instructions of the Commander-in-Chief." Authorities warned that in the event of an attack, Israeli territory and American bases in the Middle East would be "legitimate targets." Axios reported that the White House is considering military strikes amid the suppression of protests in Iran. Demonstrations began on December 28 due to dissatisfaction with the country's economic situation. The US president later softened his rhetoric and announced on January 16 that he had decided not to strike Iran because Tehran had cancelled executions of protesters.
Last week, US President Donald Trump suggested a powerful strike against Iran if Tehran did not agree to US terms.
According to media reports, the American leader ideally wants to launch a powerful, decisive strike against Iran and then declare victory as quickly as possible.
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