Khamenei warns U.S. strikes could ignite regional war
Khamenei says Iran won’t start war, but promises crushing response to any attack or threat against the nation.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday issued a stark warning to the United States, saying any military strike on Iran would no longer remain a limited confrontation but would spiral into a full-scale regional war. His remarks came even as Tehran and Washington signaled that diplomatic talks between the two sides are continuing, amid broader efforts in the region to calm tensions and avoid a wider conflict.
Addressing a large gathering at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Hussainiya, a venue closely associated with the Office of the Supreme Leader, Khamenei struck a defiant yet carefully framed tone. He sought to portray Iran as a country unwilling to initiate war, while making it clear that retaliation would be swift and severe if Iran were attacked.
His words reflected long-standing Iranian concerns that any direct military clash with the United States could quickly draw in neighboring countries and allied groups across the Middle East.
Khamenei emphasized that Iran does not see itself as an aggressor. “We are not the initiators of war. We do not seek to oppress anyone. At the same time, he delivered an unmistakable warning, adding that “anyone who seeks to attack or cause harm will face a decisive blow from the Iranian nation.”
The speech came at a delicate moment, with regional diplomacy quietly intensifying behind the scenes. Officials in both Iran and the United States have acknowledged that talks are progressing, although details remain scarce. These discussions are understood to be part of broader efforts by regional and international actors to reduce tensions that have simmered for months, fueled by conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and ongoing confrontations involving Iran-aligned groups.
Despite the diplomatic track, Khamenei’s remarks underscored deep mistrust of Washington’s intentions. Iranian leaders have repeatedly accused the United States of using negotiations as a pressure tactic while keeping military options on the table. Khamenei’s warning appeared aimed as much at deterring any potential strike as at reassuring domestic audiences that Iran would not back down under threat.
Analysts say the reference to a “regional war” is significant. Iran has a wide network of allies and partners across the Middle East, including armed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. Any direct U.S. attack on Iran, they argue, could trigger retaliatory actions on multiple fronts, threatening shipping lanes, energy infrastructure and U.S. allies across the region.
At the same time, Khamenei’s insistence that Iran does not seek war may reflect an effort to keep diplomatic channels open. By stressing that Tehran will not initiate hostilities, Iran positions itself as acting defensively, a narrative it has long used in international forums to counter accusations of destabilizing behavior.
The comments also come amid heightened anxiety among ordinary Iranians, who have endured years of economic pressure due to sanctions and fear the devastating consequences of another major conflict. By emphasizing strength and resolve, Khamenei sought to project confidence, while also framing any potential conflict as one forced upon Iran rather than chosen by it.
U.S. officials have so far not publicly responded to Khamenei’s latest remarks, but Washington has repeatedly said it does not seek war with Iran and prefers a diplomatic solution to disputes over Iran’s regional activities and nuclear program. Still, the presence of U.S. forces in the region and periodic military incidents have kept tensions high.
Regional governments are watching closely. Many fear that even a limited clash could quickly escalate beyond anyone’s control, dragging neighboring countries into a conflict with severe humanitarian and economic consequences. Energy markets, already sensitive to instability in the Middle East, could also face major disruption if fighting were to spread.
Khamenei’s speech thus captured the fragile balance currently shaping U.S.-Iran relations: tough rhetoric and warnings on one hand, cautious diplomacy on the other. While talks continue and efforts to de-escalate remain underway, the supreme leader’s message was clear — Iran believes the stakes are higher than ever, and any miscalculation could ignite a conflict far wider than a single battlefield.
For now, both sides appear to be walking a narrow line between confrontation and dialogue. Whether that line holds may depend on whether warnings like Khamenei’s are heeded — or tested — in the days ahead.