Iran’s Supreme Leader warns a US attack would spark a regional conflict, as tensions rise over nuclear talks and protests.
DUBAI: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that a US attack on Iran would escalate into a regional conflict.
State media reported his comments on Sunday amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
“(Trump) regularly says that he brought ships (…) The Iranian nation shall not be scared by these things,” Khamenei said.
He added that Iran does not seek to attack any country but will strike back strongly if harassed.
The US has bolstered its naval presence in the Middle East after President Donald Trump threatened intervention.
This pressure is linked to Iran not agreeing to a nuclear deal and its handling of domestic protests.
The US Navy currently has six destroyers, one aircraft carrier, and three littoral combat ships in the region.
Tehran says it remains ready for “fair” negotiations that do not curtail its defensive capabilities.
Protests that began over economic hardships in late December posed a major political challenge.
They have since abated after a government crackdown.
Official figures put the unrest-related death toll at 3,117.
A US-based rights group, HRANA, said on Sunday it had verified 6,713 deaths, a figure Reuters could not independently confirm.
Khamenei likened the protests to a “coup” aimed at attacking the country’s governing centres.