TEHRAN: Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, senior military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, warned on Thursday that any renewed conflict with the United States could expand into the Indian Ocean if Iran comes under further attack.
According to Fars News Agency, Safavi said Iran’s armed forces had prepared contingency plans for what he described as worst-case scenarios amid uncertainty over possible US and Israeli military action.
“We do not know what is going on in the minds of Trump and Netanyahu,” Safavi said, referring to US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Safavi Warns of Wider Geographic Conflict
Safavi said further US or Israeli strikes against Iranian facilities or interests could significantly widen the geographic scope of hostilities.
He noted that fighting had already extended from the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz towards the Red Sea.
Consequently, Safavi said a future stage of a potential conflict with Washington could expand towards the Indian Ocean or other areas.
His comments represented Iran’s assessment of possible escalation rather than confirmation that such an expansion would occur.
Iranian Flights Face New Regional Restrictions
Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that all flights operated by Iranian airlines to the United Arab Emirates would be cancelled from midnight on Thursday.
The Iranian Students News Agency cited a Civil Aviation Organisation spokesman confirming the suspension. However, the supplied report did not specify how long the measure would remain in force.
Separately, a Tehran-Dushanbe flight returned to Iran on Thursday after reportedly failing to secure permission to cross Turkmenistan’s airspace.
The aircraft subsequently landed at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran.
The aviation disruptions come alongside heightened regional tensions, although authorities have not provided full details about the duration or wider scope of the latest airspace restrictions affecting Iranian carriers.
