Iran: US involvement in conflict with Israel risks 'all-out war’
Iranian leaders issued a stark warning early Wednesday that any involvement of the U.S. military in its conflict with Israel could lead to an "all-out war."
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, in an interview with Al Jazeera English, said “any American intervention would be a recipe for an all-out war in the region."
The message comes as the Trump administration appears to be readying the military to potentially aid Israel in its assault against Iran. President Trump in recent days has not ruled out that possibility, while pressuring Tehran to surrender its nuclear capabilities.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also ordered the deployment of "additional capabilities" to the Middle East as tensions rise in the region.
Israeli officials on Monday claimed "aerial superiority" over the Iranian capital city. Trump doubled down on the sentiment in a post online Tuesday.
“We now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran. Iran had good sky trackers and other defensive equipment, and plenty of it, but it doesn’t compare to American made, conceived, and manufactured ‘stuff,’” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“Nobody does it better than the good ol’ USA," he added, as the U.S. has helped Israel to intercept missiles from Tehran.
Trump administration officials have cautioned Iranian forces not to target U.S. soldiers or any property as at least 585 people have been killed and 1,326 others are injured in the last five days of fighting, according to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists.
“President Trump and the Administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear: Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week, after Israel launched its surprise attack on Iran's nuclear facilities and missile sites.
The attack killed several top leaders and nuclear scientists, sparking a counterattack from Iran.
Iranian officials on Saturday said they would target ships owned by the U.S., U.K. and France in the Black Sea if any of the allies jump into the conflict, per the Islamic republic's state-owned media.
Leaders said they will continue to work on the enrichment of uranium backing the development of a peaceful nuclear program, as Trump warned that “unconditional surrender" would be required to end the violent strikes on Tehran — not just a ceasefire agreement.
Iran pulled out of the latest round of talks with the U.S. over its nuclear program, pledging to engage in further war operations as the tit-for-tat strikes continue.
“The operations carried out so far have been solely for the purpose of warning and deterrence,” said Gen. Abdul Rahim Mousavi, Iran’s army chief, said, as reported by The Associated Press. “The punishment operation will be carried out soon.”