Iran has warned that it would treat any attack by the United States as an “all-out war,” regardless of the scale or nature of the strike, as US military assets move into the Middle East amid rising tensions.
A senior Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity on Friday, said Tehran’s armed forces had been placed on high alert following the deployment of a US aircraft carrier strike group and other military hardware to the region.
“This military buildup — we hope it is not intended for real confrontation — but our military is ready for the worst-case scenario,” the official said, adding that Iran was closely monitoring developments. “This is why everything is on high alert in Iran.”
The official stressed that Tehran would not distinguish between different types of attacks. “This time we will treat any attack — limited, unlimited, surgical, kinetic, whatever they call it — as an all-out war against us,” he said, warning that Iran would respond decisively if targeted.
“And we will respond in the hardest way possible to settle this,” the official added, without elaborating on the nature of a possible response.
The comments come as US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that an American “armada” was heading toward Iran, though he expressed hope that it would not need to be used. US officials have confirmed that warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, several destroyers and fighter aircraft, began moving from the Asia-Pacific region last week. Additional air defence systems are also reportedly being considered for deployment in the Middle East.
“If the Americans violate Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will respond,” the Iranian official said, declining to provide specifics.
“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,” he added.
The US military has periodically reinforced its presence in the Middle East during periods of heightened tensions. A significant buildup was also carried out last year ahead of American strikes on Iran in June.
