Khamenei aide: Any US strike will be regarded as start of war

Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warned that any U.S. military action against Iran would amount to the start of a full-scale war, escalating tensions in an already volatile region, Iran International writes.

“A limited strike is an illusion. Any military action by the US, from any origin and at any level, will be regarded as the start of a war, and the response will be immediate, all-out, and unprecedented, targeting the heart of Tel Aviv and all those who support the aggressor," Shamkhani said on January 28.

U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply escalated his rhetoric toward Iran, warning Tehran that “time is running out” to reach a new nuclear agreement and signalling that military action remains on the table amid soaring tensions between the two countries.

Trump’s latest comments come as a U.S. naval “armada” — led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln — has been deployed toward Iranian waters, part of what the president described as a broader effort to pressure Tehran into negotiations over its nuclear programme while deterring further conflict.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump said a “massive armada” was heading to Iran and urged Tehran to return to the negotiating table, insisting that a deal must rule out nuclear weapons. He stressed that if Iran fails to engage constructively, the next U.S. military response would be “far worse” than previous actions.

By Aghakazim Guliyev