Key Points
- Tehran has stated that hostile rhetoric and sanctions are drivers of heightened tensions.
- Limited diplomatic signals have coincided with parallel military posturing on both sides.
TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday warned that any military action by the United States against Iran would trigger a wider regional conflict, a statement issued amid a renewed cycle of military signalling and guarded diplomatic overtures between Tehran and Washington.
In remarks carried by Iran’s state media, Khamenei said that if the United States were to initiate hostilities, “it will not be limited to Iran and will turn into a regional war,” framing the message as a response to what Iranian officials describe as escalating external pressure.
The warning comes after the United States reinforced its military presence in the Middle East in recent weeks, citing the need to deter threats to regional security and protect its forces and allies. Washington has also maintained sanctions pressure on Iran and reiterated that it will respond to any actions targeting U.S. personnel or interests in the region.
At the same time, there have been limited diplomatic signals from both sides. The US officials have publicly stated that they do not seek a broader war with Iran and have left the door open to indirect engagement on regional de-escalation and nuclear-related issues.
Iran, for its part, has conveyed through intermediaries that it is not pursuing confrontation but insists that sanctions relief, respect for its security interests, and an end to what Tehran calls threats rhetoric are prerequisites for meaningful dialogue.
Tensions have also been shaped by developments involving Iran-aligned groups across the region and by the US warnings that it holds Tehran responsible for actions by allied forces. Iranian officials have rejected that framing, arguing that regional actors operate independently and that the US military deployments are a source of instability.
Khamenei’s statement reflects Iran’s long-standing position that any attack on its territory would not remain a bilateral conflict, but would draw in multiple regional actors, a message Tehran has repeatedly emphasised during periods of heightened confrontation with Washington.
