Iran’s supreme leader warns any US attack would spark ‘regional war’

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Iran’s supreme chief warned Sunday that any assault by the US would spark a “regional conflict” within the Mideast, additional escalating tensions as President Donald Trump has threatened to militarily strike the Islamic Republic.

The feedback from the 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are the most-direct menace he’s made as far as the plane service USS Abraham Lincoln and related American warships are within the Arabian Sea, despatched by Trump there after Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests.

It stays unclear whether or not Trump will use drive. He’s repeatedly mentioned Iran desires to barter and has introduced up Tehran’s nuclear program as one other problem he desires to see resolved.

Iranian supreme chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks throughout a ceremony in Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 17, 2026. LEADER'S OFFICE HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock

However Khamenei additionally referred to the nationwide protests as “a coup,” hardening the federal government’s place as tens of hundreds of individuals reportedly have been detained because the begin of the demonstrations.

Seditious expenses in Iran can carry the loss of life penalty, which once more renews considerations about Tehran finishing up mass executions for these arrested — a crimson line for Trump.

Iran had additionally deliberate a live-fire army drill for Sunday and Monday in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the slender mouth of the Persian Gulf by means of which a fifth of all oil traded passes.

The US army’s Central Command had warned towards threatening American warships or plane in the course of the drill or disrupting industrial visitors.

Khamenei warns US

Iranian state tv reported Khamenei’s feedback on-line earlier than airing any footage of his remarks.

“The People ought to know that if they begin a conflict, this time it will likely be a regional conflict,” Khamenei was quoted as saying.

It added that Khamenei mentioned: “We aren't the instigators and we don't search to assault any nation. However the Iranian nation will ship a agency blow to anybody who assaults or harasses it.”

The plane service USS Abraham Lincoln and related American warships are within the Arabian Sea. US NAVY/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after arriving at Palm Seaside Worldwide Airport on Jan. 31, 2026. AP

Khamenei additionally hardened his place on the demonstrations after earlier acknowledging some folks had reputable financial grievances that sparked their protests. The demonstrations started Dec. 28, initially over the collapse of Iran’s rial foreign money. It quickly grew right into a direct problem to Khamenei’s rule.

“The latest sedition was much like a coup. After all, the coup was suppressed,” he mentioned. “Their objective was to destroy delicate and efficient facilities concerned in operating the nation, and because of this they attacked the police, authorities facilities, (Revolutionary Guard) services, banks and mosques — and burned copies of the Quran. They focused facilities that run the nation.”

Parliament speaker says EU militaries thought-about terrorist teams.

The speaker of Iran’s parliament, in the meantime, mentioned that the Islamic Republic now considers all European Union militaries to be terrorist teams, lashing out after the bloc declared the nation’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard a terror group over its bloody crackdown on nationwide protests.

Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, a former Guard commander, introduced the fear designation, which is able to doubtless be largely symbolic.

Iran has used a 2019 regulation to reciprocally declare different nations’ militaries terror teams following the US declaration of the Guard a terror group that 12 months.

Iranian protesters take over a road in Tehran throughout an anti-government demonstration on Jan. 8, 2026. AP

Qalibaf made the announcement as he and others in parliament wore Guard uniforms in assist of the drive. The Guard, which additionally controls Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and has huge financial pursuits in Iran, solutions solely to Iran’s 86-year-old Khamenei.

“By looking for to strike on the (Guard), which itself has been the best barrier to the unfold of terrorism to Europe, Europeans have the truth is shot themselves within the foot and, as soon as once more, by means of blind obedience to the People, determined towards the pursuits of their very own folks,” Qalibaf mentioned.

Lawmakers on the session later chanted: “Demise to America!” and “Demise to Israel!” on the session.

Iranian parliament members wearing IRGC uniforms chant “Demise to America” throughout a session in Tehran on Feb. 1, 2026. ICANA NEWS AGENCY/AFP by way of Getty Pictures

A protester calls on President Donald Trump to “Act Now” towards the Iranian regime throughout a protest outdoors the US Embassy in London, England, on Jan. 31, 2026. Andrea Domeniconi/SOPA Pictures/Shutterstock

Trump says Iran is ‘severely speaking’ to US

Trump has laid out two crimson traces for army motion: the killing of peaceable protesters or the attainable mass execution of these detained in a serious crackdown over the demonstrations.

He’s more and more begun discussing Iran’s nuclear program as nicely, which the US negotiated over with Tehran in a number of classes earlier than Israel launched a 12-day conflict with Iran again in June.

The US bombed three Iranian nuclear websites in the course of the conflict. Exercise at two of the websites suggests Iran could also be making an attempt to obscure the view of satellites because it tries to salvage what stays there.

Trump on Saturday evening declined to say whether or not he’d decided on what he needed to do relating to Iran.

Chatting with reporters as he flew to Florida, Trump sidestepped a query about whether or not Tehran can be emboldened if the US backed away from launching strikes on Iran, saying, “Some folks suppose that. Some folks don’t.”

Trump mentioned Iran ought to negotiate a “passable” deal to stop the Center Jap nation from getting any nuclear weapons, however mentioned, “I don’t know that they may. However they're speaking to us. Critically speaking to us.”

Ali Larijani, a high safety official in Iran, wrote on X late Saturday that “structural preparations for negotiations are progressing.” Nevertheless, there isn't a public signal of any direct talks with the US, one thing Khamenei has repeatedly dominated out.