Iran warns new US aggression could trigger wider war beyond region
Iran once again warned of a “decisive response” to any new adventurism by the United States against Iran, with the Army’s spokesman saying that any renewed aggression would trigger a confrontation extending beyond the region.
Iran’s Defense Minister Mehrdad Akhlaghi on Sunday warned of a “proportionate, decisive, and impactful response” to any attack on the country.
“Those who pose threats will not dictate the scope, timing, or consequences of Iran’s defensive response,” he said.
Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia also said on Saturday a potential future war could last longer than previous conflict, and the American president would not be in a position to dictate the timing or the conditions of its conclusion.
He was referring to the most intense phase of the fighting in the war that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at the US military bases across the region.
“Should a new military adventure be launched, US facilities, equipment, personnel, and interests could be targeted wherever they are within reach,” he added.
Also on Sunday, Hossein Mohebbi, the spokesperson of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps echoed the remarks made by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei in a written message the day before.
“In a conflict with America, there are no geographical limitations; a vast theatre has been defined for inflicting damage upon the enemy,” Mohebbi said.
Ayatollah Khamenei on Saturday ordered senior military commanders to ensure that any level or type of enemy threat is met with an “immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response.”
On the same day, US President Donald Trump claimed the US has knocked out much of Iran’s military but still has to “take care of” one or two targets.
“We’ve knocked out their nuclear. We still have to take care of, I would say one or two sites, but we can do that in 10 minutes,” Trump said.
Despite escalating threats from both parties, diplomatic mediators are making every effort to avert a renewed military confrontation between Tehran and Washington.
A senior Emirati official said on Sunday that the UAE is hoping for a breakthrough in negotiations between Iran and the United States while being prepared for the worst.
“We’re hoping that there is a diplomatic breakthrough,” diplomatic adviser to the Emirati president Anwar Gargash said during a conference in Manama.
“It is not the interest of the region to go through another round... But I think we’re also, as we’ve shown before, braced for the worst.”
Following a visit to Tehran this week by a Qatari delegation, Iran has dispatched envoys to the Persian Gulf country to continue consultations as part of indirect negotiations with the US to end the war.