Rabat – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today that any US military strike against Iran would spark a wider regional conflict.
In remarks reported by state media, Khamenei rejected US military pressure and said threats would not “intimidate the Iranian population”.
His comments followed a recent expansion of the US naval presence in the Middle East after President Donald Trump warned of possible intervention unless Iran agreed to a nuclear deal and halted its crackdown on protesters.
Khamenei said Iran does not seek war or confrontation but would respond decisively to any attack. “The Iranian nation does not fear ships or threats,” he said, adding that any aggression would meet a firm response.
The US currently deploys six destroyers, an aircraft carrier, and three littoral combat ships in the region.
Despite the sharp rhetoric, both sides have signaled openness to diplomacy. Tehran has said it remains ready for negotiations that respect Iran’s defensive capacity and follow what officials describe as fair terms.
Trump echoed that position on Saturday, saying Iran had entered serious talks with Washington.
“I hope they reach a deal that works,” Trump said. “A negotiated outcome with no nuclear weapons would be acceptable.”
The regional standoff unfolds after weeks of unrest inside Iran. Protests that began in late December over economic hardship later turned into the most serious political challenge to the Islamic Republic since 1979. Authorities have since restored order through security measures.
Official figures put the death toll at 3,117, while the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency almost doubles that figure to 6,700 deaths.
Khamenei described the protests as an attempted “coup” backed by the US and Israel. He said the unrest aimed to weaken state institutions rather than reflect domestic demands.
As Washington reinforces its military posture and Tehran maintains its warnings, both sides appear to balance deterrence with cautious diplomatic signals, leaving the region on edge between escalation and dialogue.
