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Khamenei issues stark warning to US
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has cautioned that any military action by the United States would trigger a broader regional conflict. In remarks carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Khamenei stated, "The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war."
US military presence escalates tensions
The US has reinforced its military footprint in the region, deploying the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln to the Arabian Sea. US Central Command confirmed its operations in the area late last week. Khamenei dismissed the buildup, asserting, "The Iranian nation shall not be scared by these things," despite President Donald Trump's repeated threats of intervention over Iran's nuclear program and its crackdown on anti-government protests.
Diplomatic signals and naval maneuvers
Trump suggested earlier that Iran was engaged in "serious discussions" with the US, expressing hope for an "acceptable" outcome. Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, echoed this sentiment, indicating progress in negotiation frameworks. However, Iran's planned two-day live-fire naval exercise in the Strait of Hormuz-a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments-was reportedly canceled, according to an unnamed Iranian official cited by Reuters.
The Strait of Hormuz, spanning 33 km (21 miles) at its narrowest point between Iran and Oman, handles roughly a fifth of the world's traded oil. Iran has previously threatened to close the strait in response to potential attacks, prompting the US to warn against "unsafe and unprofessional behavior" near its forces.
"The US military is now attempting to dictate how our Powerful Armed Forces should conduct target practice in their own turf," Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded.
Explosions and crackdown fuel instability
Two explosions over the weekend heightened tensions within Iran. In the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, a gas leak at a building killed one person and injured 14, according to local authorities. Tasnim news agency denied social media claims that a Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) navy commander was targeted in the blast.
In Ahvaz, a southwestern city, another explosion killed at least four people, with authorities again attributing the incident to a gas leak. Meanwhile, Iran's crackdown on protests has drawn international condemnation. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported over 6,300 confirmed deaths since unrest began in late December, with investigations ongoing into an additional 17,000 alleged fatalities. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) group warned the final toll could surpass 25,000.
Protesters describe unprecedented violence
Protesters told the BBC that the lethal response by security forces was unlike anything they had witnessed before. Khamenei, in his Sunday remarks, accused demonstrators of attacking police, IRGC facilities, banks, and mosques, asserting that "the coup was suppressed."
Trump's demands and Iran's response
Last Thursday, Trump outlined two conditions for Iran to avoid US military action: abandoning its nuclear program and halting the killing of protesters. Iran has yet to formally respond to these demands, but Khamenei's latest warning underscores the fragile state of regional security.
