Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has warned the United States that a military strike against Iran would ignite a wider regional conflict, as Washington deploys additional military forces to the Middle East.
Speaking at a public event in central Tehran on Sunday, Khamenei said any renewed confrontation would extend beyond Iran’s borders. “They should know that if they start a war this time, it will be a regional war,” said the 86-year-old leader, who has held Iran’s highest office for nearly four decades.
Speech Marks Anniversary of 1979 Revolution
Khamenei’s remarks came during commemorations marking the return of Ruhollah Khomeini from exile in France in 1979, a moment that preceded the Iranian Revolution and the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi.
The warning was delivered as US military assets — including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, fighter jets and naval destroyers — moved closer to the region amid rising tensions.
Unrest and Crackdown After Protests
The heightened military posture follows nationwide antigovernment protests in Iran earlier this year, during which thousands of people were reportedly killed. The demonstrations began in late December over the sharp collapse of the Iranian rial and rising living costs, before evolving into broader opposition to Khamenei’s rule.
Iranian authorities have insisted the unrest was orchestrated by foreign actors. Addressing the issue on Sunday, Khamenei described the protests as an attempted coup.
“The recent sedition was similar to a coup, and it was defeated,” he said, alleging that demonstrators targeted police stations, government buildings, facilities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, banks and mosques, and desecrated religious symbols.
Iranian state media reported that 3,117 people were killed during the unrest, including civilians and security personnel. US-based rights groups have placed the death toll at more than 6,000. These figures could not be independently verified by Al Jazeera.
Trump’s Shifting Stance
Since the protests, Donald Trump has repeatedly warned of possible military action against Iran. Initially, Trump linked the prospect of a strike to Iran’s handling of demonstrators, but later shifted focus toward pressuring Tehran to accept a new nuclear agreement.
In June, Iranian and US officials held indirect talks in Oman before Israel launched a 12-day conflict with Iran, during which the US joined Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities.
Defiance Mixed With Diplomacy
Despite the confrontational tone, Khamenei also accused Washington of pursuing Iran’s natural resources, including oil and gas. “That is the real reason for their hostility,” he said, dismissing US references to human rights as “empty slogans”.
At the same time, both Tehran and Washington have confirmed that communication channels remain open in an effort to prevent a direct military clash.
On Saturday, Trump said Iran was “seriously talking” with the US. His comments came shortly after Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran was prepared for negotiations.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said he wanted Iran to agree to a deal that includes abandoning nuclear weapons, though he was unsure whether Tehran would accept such terms.
“But they are talking to us,” Trump said. “Seriously talking to us.”