Iran's Supreme Leader Warns of Wider War If U.S. Strikes Resume

Ayatollah Mojtaba Jamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, warned on Thursday that the war in the Middle East will extend its scope if the United States resumes attacks against the Islamic Republic. The statement follows limited U.S. military strikes on the Iranian island of Qeshm early Tuesday morning.

In a written message posted to his official website, Jamenei declared that if similar acts of aggression are repeated, the conflict will reach a much larger scale. He rejected the idea that a shift in U.S. policy is likely. The leader noted that those hoping for a change in behavior or partisan turns within the dominant system are deeply mistaken.

Jamenei added in a social media post that concessions to the United States will not dissuade its hostility toward Iran. This is the first public appearance from the Ayatollah since he assumed power in March. His father and predecessor died during the initial attacks of the war in February.

The threat of renewed military action has kept the region on alert for weeks. U.S. President Donald Trump said over the weekend he was prepared to deliver a crushing blow to Tehran. Reports in recent days suggested a brief and intense military campaign might follow the U.S. midterm elections held this week.

The Republican Party suffered a heavy defeat in those elections. Vice President JD Vance attributed the loss to the ongoing conflict. He stated on X that the war was the reason the party lost. The conflict, which began more than eight months ago, has shaken the global economy and devastated Iran.

Regional allies of the United States are urging Washington to avoid restarting the war. Negotiations continue to prevent a resumption of large-scale fighting. The next scheduled step involves further diplomatic talks aimed at de-escalating tensions between the two nations.

The U.S. military conducted limited operations on Qeshm on Tuesday. The strikes occurred after the midterm election results were confirmed. Iran’s leadership maintains that any future U.S. action will trigger a wider response.