DUBAI: Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei mentioned that if the US attacked Iran, it might turn into a regional battle, state media reported on Sunday (Feb 1), amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The US has built up its naval presence within the Center East after President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened Iran with intervention if it didn’t comply with a nuclear deal or didn’t cease killing protesters.
“(Trump) often says that he introduced ships (…) The Iranian nation shall not be scared by these items, the Iranian folks won’t be stirred by these threats,” Khamenei mentioned.
“We aren’t the initiators and don’t wish to assault any nation, however the Iranian nation will strike a robust blow towards anybody who assaults and harasses them.”
A diplomatic resolution stays on the playing cards, with Tehran saying it’s prepared for “honest” negotiations that don’t search to curtail its defensive capabilities.
The US Navy presently has six destroyers, one plane service, and three littoral fight ships within the area.
The protests, which began in late December over financial hardships however morphed into essentially the most acute political problem to the Islamic Republic since its institution in 1979, have now abated after repression.
Official numbers put the unrest-related dying toll at 3,117, whereas the US-based HRANA rights group mentioned on Sunday it had to date verified the dying of 6,713 folks. Reuters was unable to independently confirm the numbers.
Khamenei likened the protests to a “coup”, saying that the aim of the “sedition” was to assault the centres that govern the nation, state media reported.
