Tehran, February 1, 2026: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Sunday that any military attack by the United States on Iran would turn into a wider regional conflict, amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, state media reported.
His remarks come as the United States has increased its naval presence in the Middle East following repeated warnings by President Donald Trump, who has threatened intervention if Iran does not agree to a nuclear deal or fails to halt the killing of protesters.
Referring to US military deployments, Khamenei said Iran would not be intimidated. “
Trump regularly says that he brought ships. The Iranian nation shall not be scared by these things; the Iranian people will not be stirred by these threats,” he was quoted as saying.
He added that Iran had no intention of initiating conflict but would respond forcefully to any aggression. “We are not the initiators and do not want to attack any country, but the Iranian nation will strike a strong blow against anyone who attacks and harasses them,” Khamenei said.
Despite the sharp rhetoric, Tehran signalled that diplomacy remains an option, stating it is ready for “fair” negotiations that do not seek to curtail Iran’s defensive capabilities.
According to reports, the US Navy currently has six destroyers, one aircraft carrier and three littoral combat ships deployed in the region.
The comments also come against the backdrop of recent unrest in Iran. Protests that began in late December over economic hardships later evolved into the most serious political challenge to the Islamic Republic since its establishment in 1979. The demonstrations have since subsided following a crackdown by authorities.
Official figures place the death toll linked to the unrest at 3,117, while the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it has so far verified 6,713 deaths. Reuters said it was unable to independently verify the figures.
Khamenei described the protests as a “coup,” accusing what he termed “sedition” of attempting to target and undermine the country’s governing institutions, according to state media.
