Iran warns U.S. attack would trigger regional war

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any U.S. military attack on Iran would spark a wider regional conflict, Iranian semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.

Ali Khamenei said Washington should understand that striking Iran would not remain a limited confrontation, but would quickly escalate beyond Iran’s borders.

The warning comes as Tehran and Washington exchange threats alongside parallel signals that diplomacy remains possible.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Saturday that a “structured framework” for negotiations with Washington is “taking shape and moving forward,” dismissing what he described as exaggerated media narratives portraying an imminent war.

Larijani’s remarks come as several regional actors, most notably Türkiye, step up mediation efforts aimed at easing tensions between Tehran and Washington.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travelled to Istanbul on Friday for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. Following the meetings, Araghchi said Iran remains open to negotiations based on “mutual respect.”

Larijani also made a brief visit to Moscow, where he held closed-door talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin confirmed the meeting, though no details were disclosed.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have escalated in recent weeks following protests inside Iran and strong warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has pledged support for protesters and urged Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

• Trump says Iran ‘seriously talking’ to U.S., hopes for acceptable deal
• Iran can defend itself without nuclear weapons, nuclear chief says
• Iran’s nuclear ambitions shape Israel-Türkiye tensions
• A diplomatic tightrope: How Türkiye and Azerbaijan are moving to de-escalate Iran-U.S. tensions

Earlier this week, Trump announced that a large U.S. naval force was moving toward the region, raising fears of a direct confrontation. He has repeatedly warned Iran to return to negotiations or face severe consequences.

Iranian officials insist the country does not seek nuclear weapons and say they are prepared to engage diplomatically, while maintaining that Iran’s armed forces remain on maximum alert.

Military commanders in Tehran have warned that Iran would respond forcefully to any attack by the United States or Israel, underscoring the fragile balance between diplomacy and escalation as mediation efforts continue.

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