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Khamenei said sending ships to the region would neither frighten the Iranian public nor alter Iran’s calculations.
By United with Israel Staff
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei escalated his rhetoric against the United States on Saturday, warning that any American-initiated conflict would not remain limited but would spiral into a regional war.
The remarks came amid heightened U.S. military deployments and were also published on Khamenei’s official Hebrew-language account on X, underscoring Tehran’s intent to address Israeli and regional audiences directly.
“If the Americans start a war, this time it will be a regional war,” Khamenei said, according to the statement.
על האמריקאים לדעת שאם הם יפתחו במלחמה, הפעם זאת תהיה מלחמה אזורית.
— Khamenei.ir Hebrew (@Khamenei_Heb) February 1, 2026
While insisting that Iran is not seeking conflict and does not intend to attack any country, he warned that the Iranian people would “strike a powerful blow” against anyone who attacks them.
The supreme leader framed Iran’s posture as defensive, while making clear that any strike on Iranian territory would carry consequences far beyond Iran itself.
Khamenei also sought to downplay Washington’s military signaling, dismissing repeated references to aircraft, warships, and force deployments as recycled intimidation tactics.
He noted that U.S. leaders have issued similar warnings many times in the past, often claiming that “all options are on the table,” including war.
Referring pointedly to President Donald Trump, Khamenei dismissed U.S. military threats, saying that talk of ships, planes, and force is “nothing new,” and insisting that “the Iranian people are not frightened by these threats and are not affected by such intimidation.”
The threats come as President Trump continues to emphasize American military readiness while keeping open the possibility of a negotiated outcome.
On Saturday, he said Iran is “talking to us,” adding, “We’ll see if we can do something. Otherwise, we’ll see what happens,” while stressing that any agreement would have to eliminate Iran’s nuclear capability.
Asked whether he had decided on military action, Trump said, “I certainly can’t tell you that,” but confirmed that “very big, powerful ships” are moving toward the region, describing the deployment as larger than previous buildups and saying he hopes Tehran will reach an agreement acceptable to Washington.
Adding another layer of complexity, senior Iranian officials have sent more conciliatory signals alongside the hardline warnings.
Iran’s top national security figure, Ali Larijani, wrote on X late Saturday that “contrary to the atmosphere of war in the media, a framework for advanced negotiations is taking shape.”
His comments suggested that diplomatic channels remain active behind the scenes, even as public rhetoric on both sides grows sharper.
The juxtaposition of threats, military deployments, and parallel talk of negotiations has fueled uncertainty across the region.
While Washington signals readiness for confrontation, Tehran is warning that any strike would trigger a broader regional response, raising fears that miscalculation or escalation could rapidly draw multiple actors into a wider conflict.
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