Iran’s Supreme Leader Warns: Any U.S.-Initiated War Would Be Regional
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Tuesday that if the United States were to initiate a war against Iran, the conflict would not be limited and would turn into a regional war.
Speaking during a meeting with a large crowd at the Imam Khomeini (RA) Hussainiya, Ayatollah Khamenei addressed recent U.S. threats and military rhetoric:
He said repeated references by U.S. officials to war, military aircraft, and naval deployments are not new, noting that Washington has long claimed that “all options are on the table,” including war.
Referring to former U.S. President Donald Trump, he said such statements about deploying warships are meant to intimidate, but stressed that the Iranian nation is not influenced or frightened by these threats.
Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that Iran does not seek to initiate conflict, oppress others, or attack any country. However, he warned that any aggression against Iran would be met with a strong and decisive response from the Iranian people.
He added that U.S. officials should be aware that if they start a war this time, it would escalate into a regional conflict.
Addressing the roots of tensions between Tehran and Washington, the Supreme Leader said the dispute spans more than four decades and can be summarized simply: the United States seeks to dominate Iran, while the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic stand firmly in opposition.
He stated that for more than 30 years prior to the Islamic Revolution, the U.S. exerted control over Iran’s oil resources, politics, security, and foreign relations. According to him, Washington now seeks to restore the conditions of the Pahlavi era, but faces resistance from a nation determined to remain independent. He dismissed U.S. references to issues such as human rights as pretexts, reiterating that Iran will continue to stand firm and thwart what he described as American hostility.
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