Iran’s leadership has warned that any military attack by the United States would trigger a wider regional conflict, further escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington. In a retaliatory move, Iran also announced it would designate European Union armed forces as “terrorist organizations.”
The warning comes as the United States has significantly increased its naval presence in the Middle East. US forces currently deployed in the region reportedly include an aircraft carrier, several destroyers, and multiple littoral combat ships, amid mounting pressure on Iran over nuclear negotiations and recent domestic unrest.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed US threats, saying the Iranian people would not be intimidated by military deployments. He stressed that Iran does not seek confrontation but would respond forcefully to any aggression.
“We are not the initiators of war,” Khamenei was quoted as saying by Iranian state media. “But if anyone attacks or harasses the Iranian nation, they will face a decisive response.”
Despite the sharp rhetoric, both Tehran and Washington have indicated openness to renewed diplomatic engagement. US President Donald Trump said Iran was engaged in serious discussions with Washington and expressed hope for an agreement that would prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
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Iranian officials have stated that Tehran is willing to enter “fair” negotiations, provided talks do not undermine the country’s defensive capabilities.
An Iranian official also rejected earlier media reports suggesting that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards would conduct live-fire naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, calling those reports inaccurate.
Tensions have intensified following the European Union’s decision to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization in response to Tehran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests earlier this year.
In retaliation, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf announced that Iran would label EU armies as terrorist groups and consider expelling European military attachés. Addressing lawmakers, many of whom wore IRGC uniforms in a show of support, Qalibaf accused Europe of undermining its own interests.
The protests in Iran, which initially erupted over economic grievances and evolved into the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic in decades, have largely subsided following a heavy security response. Official Iranian figures put the death toll at just over 3,000, while international human rights groups report significantly higher numbers. These figures have not been independently verified.
The developments underscore the fragile state of relations between Iran, the United States, and Europe, with diplomacy and confrontation unfolding in parallel amid growing regional uncertainty.
