Iran threatens wider conflict if US attacks again

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 25, 2026

An adviser to Iran’s supreme leader warned that the Middle East conflict could spread into the Indian Ocean if the U.S. continues military attacks, indicating escalation beyond the Persian Gulf and Red Sea. This is significant as it highlights Tehran’s readiness to broaden hostilities and raises concerns over strategic areas like the Diego Garcia military base, increasing urgency for diplomatic talks.

An adviser to Iran’s supreme leader has warned that the Middle East conflict could expand into the Indian Ocean if the United States carries out further military attacks. Yahya Rahim Safavi, speaking in a video released by Iran’s Fars news agency on Thursday, indicated that the confrontation has already spread from the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea, and may extend beyond to new regions in response to continued hostilities.

Iran has been engaged in a tense standoff with the United States and its allies following a series of airstrikes at the end of February, which Iran attributes to US and Israeli forces. In retaliation, Tehran has tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which a significant share of the world’s oil and gas shipments pass. Now, Safavi’s comments suggest Tehran is prepared to broaden the conflict further as tensions persist.

The Red Sea has also emerged as a key area of concern due to recent advances by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have seized control of the Red Sea coastline, including the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. This chokepoint links Asia to Europe via the Suez Canal. While Iran has long been accused of providing military support to the Houthis, it continues to deny direct involvement in Yemen's ongoing conflict, where the Houthis fight against a Saudi-backed government.

The mention of the Indian Ocean is notable, as it hosts the Diego Garcia military base, operated jointly by the United States and the United Kingdom, located roughly 4,000 kilometers from Iran. This marks the first time a senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader has explicitly referenced a potential expansion of hostilities to that region.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to ease the conflict continue. Officials from both Iran and the United States met this week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York for talks aimed at resolving the crisis. Tehran has outlined several conditions for ending the conflict, including the lifting of Western sanctions on its economy and the unconditional release of Iranian assets frozen abroad.

In addition to Safavi’s warning, Hossein Mohebi, a spokesman for Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, emphasized in a Tuesday interview that resolving the conflict in Yemen is also a priority for Tehran. As regional and international tensions remain high, the possibility of further escalation beyond current hotspots has added new urgency to diplomatic negotiations.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.