Iran Warns of Regional War if US Launches Attack, Highlighting Strategic Consequences

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Iran and the United States have been in strategic confrontation for over four decades, following Iran’s departure from the US-aligned regional alliances after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Recent heightened tensions, marked by increased US military activity near Iran, have prompted Ayatollah Khamenei to issue a stark declaration: any US aggression would transform the conflict into a regional war.

A regional war, as defined by Iranian officials, would extend beyond the borders of the two nations, rapidly drawing in neighboring countries and US military assets across the Middle East. Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, coupled with its control over the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz—a vital global energy artery—position it to disrupt not only US bases in Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE but also global energy markets.

Iran has previously targeted US bases, including Ain al-Asad in Iraq in 2020 following the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, and Al-Udeid in Qatar months ago. The country has repeatedly cautioned regional nations that hosting US forces would render them legitimate targets in a full-scale conflict.

Unlike conventional warfare, a regional conflict would be asymmetrical, leveraging Iran’s geographical advantages against US technological superiority. The involvement of Iran-aligned groups like Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Yemen’s Houthis, and Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces could further complicate the battlefield, creating multiple fronts.

The economic fallout would be severe, with potential disruptions to oil and gas supplies driving up energy prices and straining global markets. Ayatollah Khamenei’s warning underscores Iran’s deterrent strategy, emphasizing that while Tehran does not seek war, it is prepared to escalate hostilities regionally if provoked.