Iran warns any US attack would be treated as full-scale war

A senior Iranian official has warned that any attack by the United States on Iran, regardless of its scale or type, would be considered by Tehran as the start of a full-scale war against the Islamic Republic, and that Iran would respond with maximum force.

Speaking to journalists in New York, the official said: "This time we will treat any attack — whether limited, unlimited, surgical, kinetic, or whatever they call it — as a full-scale war against us, and we will respond in the harshest way possible."

The remarks come amid ongoing unrest in Iran, which began on 29 December following street protests triggered by a sharp decline in the value of the rial. The demonstrations have since spread to most major cities across the country.

According to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, since 8 January, armed terrorists have been present among the demonstrators. Tehran has blamed Israel and the United States for orchestrating the unrest. On January 23, Araghchi reported that the total number of deaths had reached 3,117, including both civilians and members of security forces.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump warned that he is seriously considering the possibility of using force against Iran.

By Tamilla Hasanova