Iran warns of wider war if U.S. strikes resume
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Jamenei stated that renewed U.S. aggression would expand the conflict, days after Republican midterm losses.
By Nathan Brooks ·
Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Jamenei issued a warning on Wednesday that the Middle East conflict will expand if the United States resumes military attacks against the Islamic Republic. The statement comes after limited U.S. strikes hit the Iranian island of Qeshm in the early hours of Tuesday.
In a written message posted on his official website, Jamenei said that if similar acts of aggression occur, the war will reach a much larger scope. He noted that the region has been in a state of suspense for weeks regarding the possibility of large-scale U.S. military operations. The war began more than eight months ago and has disrupted the global economy while causing severe damage to Iran.
The warning follows the U.S. midterm elections held on Tuesday, where President Donald Trump’s Republican party suffered a decisive defeat. Media reports in recent days suggested a brief and intense military campaign might follow the election. Trump had declared over the weekend that he was ready to deliver a crushing blow to Tehran.
Jamenei dismissed the idea that the United States would change its approach toward Iran. He told followers on his social media account that anyone hoping for a change in behavior or partisan shifts within the U.S. system is deeply mistaken. He added that believing concessions to Washington could deter its hostility toward Iran is also wrong. Jamenei has not appeared in public since taking power in March.
The new leader replaced his father and predecessor, who died during the initial attacks of the war in February. In Washington, Vice President JD Vance attributed the Republican midterm losses directly to the ongoing conflict. Vance wrote on X that the war was the reason the party lost.
Negotiations continue to prevent a resumption of hostilities. Other U.S. allies in the region are urging Washington not to restart the war. The next phase of diplomatic efforts is currently underway as officials seek to de-escalate tensions.
The U.S. military conducted the limited strikes on Qeshm before the release of Jamenei’s statement. The island is located in the Strait of Hormuz. Regional monitors are tracking the movement of naval assets in the area.
