Iran has warned that any fresh military action by the United States and its allies would provoke “continuous, effective and painful” attacks on American bases and interests throughout West Asia, and cautioned that nations backing Washington would be treated as parties to the conflict.
The warning came Sunday from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the country’s central military command, which said the US appeared to be preparing to resume military action against Tehran with support from certain countries in the region. In a statement carried by state news agency IRNA, the command said that if the US made any move against Iran, all its regional bases and interests would face relentless retaliation “without any limitation or consideration.”
The command also cautioned regional nations against backing any American military operation, warning that any country aligning with Washington would be regarded as a participant in the conflict and should not expect Iranian forces to hold back.
The warning comes as the US continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports. US Central Command reported that it had redirected 109 commercial vessels as of September 20 as part of that effort. The ongoing standoff has heightened concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy trade. Iran has kept most shipping through the strait restricted, saying it won’t reopen the waterway until the terms of a June ceasefire, as Tehran understands them, are fulfilled.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has warned of serious consequences for Iran if it doesn’t reach an agreement, suggesting the country could face economic collapse or attacks targeting its leadership. Trump said he was in “deciding mode” on how to handle Iran and hinted that “very big things” could be on the horizon.
Separately, Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei said Tehran had communicated its conditions for ending the conflict through Qatari mediators — including a halt to hostilities, release of Iran’s frozen funds, and an end to the naval blockade.
This latest escalation follows a fresh wave of attacks by Iran-backed Houthi forces on Saudi Arabia, including claimed strikes on Riyadh and an oil facility in the Red Sea port city of Yanbu. Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to these claims, though a Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted other attempted attacks.
Given the rising tensions, the US State Department issued an advisory on Saturday warning Americans in the region about possible “unforeseen escalation,” urging increased caution and preparedness for potential flight cancellations and airspace closures.
