TEHRAN: Iran will treat any United States military action as an “all-out war against us,” a senior Iranian official has warned, as American warships and aircraft move toward the Middle East amid heightened regional tensions.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said Iran’s armed forces have been placed on high alert following the deployment of a US aircraft carrier strike group and additional military assets to the region.
“This military buildup — we hope it is not intended for real confrontation — but our military is ready for the worst-case scenario,” the official said.
“This is why everything is on high alert in Iran.”
According to news agencies and TRT World, the warning comes as US naval and air forces, including an aircraft carrier and several destroyers, are repositioned from the Asia-Pacific toward the Middle East, raising fears of a potential escalation between Iran and the United States.
The Iranian official said Tehran would not differentiate between the scale or nature of any potential attack.
“This time we will treat any attack — limited, unlimited, surgical, kinetic, whatever they call it — as an all-out war against us,” the official said.
He added that Iran would respond decisively if attacked.
The warning follows similarly strong remarks issued earlier on Thursday by Mohammad Pakpour, the chief commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who cautioned the United States and Israel against any “miscalculation,” saying Iran’s forces had their “finger on the trigger.”
Pakpour said Washington and Tel Aviv should “learn from historical experience” and avoid steps that could provoke a response, warning that failure to do so could lead to consequences that are “more painful and deeply regrettable.”
He said Iran’s armed forces were “more prepared than ever” to carry out orders from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, underlining Tehran’s readiness as tensions continue to rise.
Pakpour made the remarks in a message marking Iran’s National Soldier Day, carried by Sepah News, the IRGC’s official media outlet.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States had an “armada” heading toward Iran but expressed hope that it would not have to be used.
US warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, several destroyers and fighter aircraft, began moving toward the region last week, officials said. Additional air defence systems are also under consideration for deployment to the Middle East.
“If the Americans violate Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will respond,” the Iranian official said, declining to specify what form that response might take.
“A country under constant military threat from the United States has no option but to ensure that everything at its disposal can be used to push back and, if possible, restore balance against anyone who dares to attack Iran,” he added.
The US military has periodically reinforced its presence in the Middle East during times of heightened tension. However, it carried out a major buildup last year ahead of its June attacks against Iran, underscoring the volatility of the current standoff.
