Iran Issues Stark Warning of All-Out War Response to Any US Military Action
A high-ranking Iranian official stated on Friday that Tehran would interpret any military offensive "as an all-out war against us," according to a Reuters report. This defiant declaration comes just ahead of the scheduled arrival of a United States aircraft carrier strike group and additional military hardware in the Middle East region.
Military Buildup and High Alert Status in Iran
"This military buildup - we hope it is not intended for real confrontation - but our military is ready for the worst-case scenario. This is why everything is on high alert in Iran," the senior Iranian official told Reuters. The official emphasized that Iran would respond with overwhelming force to any form of attack, regardless of its scale or nature.
"This time we will treat any attack - limited, unlimited, surgical, kinetic, whatever they call it - as an all-out war against us, and we will respond in the hardest way possible to settle this," the official added, underscoring the seriousness of Iran's stance.
US Naval Deployment and Trump's Comments
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump confirmed that a naval "armada" was advancing toward the region. While expressing a desire to avoid direct conflict, he reiterated stern warnings to the Iranian leadership regarding the suppression of protesters and any potential resumption of their nuclear development activities.
"We have a massive fleet heading in that direction and maybe we won’t have to use it," Trump said aboard Air Force One, highlighting the delicate balance between military posturing and diplomatic restraint.
Historical Context and Defensive Postures
While the United States military frequently deploys reinforcements to the Middle East as a deterrent during periods of friction, these maneuvers are generally characterized as defensive. Nevertheless, a similar large-scale mobilization occurred last year, serving as the precursor to the June military strikes launched against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The Iranian official warned, "If the Americans violate Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will respond." He further explained, "A country under constant military threat from the United States has no option but to ensure that everything at its disposal can be used to push back and, if possible, restore balance against anyone who dares to attack Iran."
Revolutionary Guard Commander's Warning
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a force which was key in putting down recent nationwide protests in a crackdown that left thousands dead, is "more ready than ever, finger on the trigger," its commander said on Saturday.
Nournews, a news outlet close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, reported on its Telegram channel that the commander, Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, warned the US and Israel "to avoid any miscalculation."
"The Islamic Revolutionary Guards and dear Iran stand more ready than ever, finger on the trigger, to execute the orders and directives of the Commander-in-Chief," Nournews quoted Pakpour as saying, reinforcing the high state of readiness and resolve within Iran's military apparatus.
The combined statements from Iranian officials and military leaders paint a picture of a nation on high alert, prepared to escalate any conflict into a full-scale war, as tensions with the United States continue to simmer in the volatile Middle East region.
