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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that if the United States were to attack Iran, it could spark a regional conflict, according to state media reports on Sunday, amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The U.S. has increased its naval presence in the Middle East after President Donald Trump repeatedly issued threats of intervention if Iran did not agree to a nuclear deal or stopped suppressing protests.
“[Trump] often claims to have brought ships… The Iranian people should not be intimidated by these actions. The threats do not concern us,” Khamenei said.
He emphasized, “We are not the ones initiating conflict or seeking to attack other nations, but if any country attacks us or provokes us, Iran will respond decisively and strike back hard.”
Diplomatic negotiations are still being considered, with Tehran expressing willingness for “fair” talks that do not aim to limit its defensive capabilities.
Currently, the U.S. Navy has deployed six destroyers, one aircraft carrier, and three littoral combat ships across the region.
The protests that erupted in late December over economic hardships have evolved into the most significant political challenge to the Islamic Republic since 1979 but have largely subsided following government repression.
Official figures report 3,117 deaths related to the unrest, while the U.S.-based HRANA rights group says it has verified 6,713 fatalities so far. Reuters has been unable to independently confirm these numbers.
Khamenei compared the protests to a “coup,” asserting that the purpose of what he called the “sedition” was to target and destabilize the nation’s governing centers, according to state media.
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