February 2, 2026 l By Dalena Reporters Staff Correspondent
TEHRAN — In a stark escalation of rhetoric amid deepening tensions with Washington, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Sunday that any military attack by the United States against the Islamic Republic would trigger a widespread regional war across the Middle East. The comments mark one of Tehran’s most direct threats in weeks of mounting diplomatic strain.
Speaking in Tehran before a large crowd, Khamenei framed the warning as a defence of national sovereignty, asserting that Iran would deliver a “firm blow” against any nation that initiated hostilities. He distanced Tehran from being the aggressor while portraying potential U.S. military action as a provocation capable of engulfing neighbouring states in conflict.
“The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war,” Iran’s supreme leader said, underscoring the potential for wider instability beyond Iran’s borders.
Rising Tensions with the United States
The warning comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has moved warships notably the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group into waters near the Persian Gulf, a signal of pressure on Tehran amid worsening diplomatic relations. Trump has insisted that he prefers negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme, even as he refuses to rule out military options should Iran cross what Washington deems critical red lines.
While Trump has expressed hopes for serious dialogue with Iranian officials, Khamenei’s statements highlight the deep mistrust between the two capitals and the potential for rapid escalation should either side motion toward conflict.
Khamenei also referenced recent anti-government protests in Iran, which began in late December and expanded nationwide, spurred by economic grievances before challenging broader political grievances. Iranian authorities have described those demonstrations as seditious, referring to them as akin to a “coup attempt.”
In parallel, the European Union’s designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation has prompted Tehran to label all EU militaries similarly — a symbolic but striking escalation in diplomatic rhetoric.
Risks of Regional Escalation
Analysts say Khamenei’s warning reflects how Tehran seeks to deter military action by signaling the high costs of conflict for the broader Middle East. Experts caution that any kinetic confrontation between the United States and Iran whether over nuclear facilities, missile programmes, or other flashpoints would likely involve regional actors and could draw in allied militias and neighbouring states.
As both governments publicly navigate diplomatic, economic, and security pressures, the international community continues to watch closely for signs of de-escalation or further confrontation in a region long marked by complex rivalries and fragile stability.