On Wednesday, Iran issued a warning that any involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel could escalate into a “full war.”
Esmail Baghahi, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, told Al Jazeera that “American intervention will trigger all-out war in the region.”
While he did not elaborate much further, it’s worth noting that there are thousands of American troops stationed in a neighboring country, close to Iran.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed concern, stating that any U.S. military action would lead to “serious irreparable consequences.”
Khamenei asserted that Iran would “never surrender” and emphasized that threats do not yield favorable responses from his country. He remarked, “The Iranian state and its wise people will not communicate with the U.S. in a threatening manner because surrender is not an option for us.”
“Americans should be aware that military intervention will lead to significant damage,” he added.
Iran’s reaction follows reports that U.S. officials hinted at preparations to target U.S. bases in the Middle East should Iran escalate its involvement in the conflict.
Furthermore, Iranian forces have reportedly mined the Strait of Hormuz, an action aimed at restricting American naval operations in the Persian Gulf.
This escalation comes on the heels of Trump’s ultimatum for Iran to surrender and a warning directed at the Supreme Leader, stating, “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Super Leader’ is hiding. He’s easily targeted, but for now, he remains safe. I won’t take him out just yet.”
In a somewhat ambiguous tone, he added, “But we don’t want to target civilians or American soldiers. Patience, however, is waning.”
In light of Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, which took place overnight, a mass exodus from the city was observed. Reports indicate that Israeli jets executed strikes on about 20 locations in Tehran, including those related to missile production.
In retaliation, Iran launched a limited missile barrage aimed at Israel.
