A top adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned that if the United States or Israel launch fresh attacks, Iran will extend the conflict all the way to the Indian Ocean. Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi issued this warning in a video published by Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency. According to Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera, Safavi noted that since the conflict has already spread from the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea, any further military aggression could push the confrontation further into the Indian Ocean and potentially beyond.
He further stated that the Iranian military has prepared contingency plans for the worst-case scenario if US and Israeli attacks resume. Praising Yemen's Houthis for seizing control of the Red Sea coast, he remarked that Yemenis have stood against any aggressive forces attempting to interfere with their territorial integrity for over a century.
Khamenei's adviser added, "I must make it clear here that if the Americans start a new war, a new front centered around the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could open right before their eyes."
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has threatened to "destroy" Iran if it fails to accept US demands. A security analyst noted that Trump made this threat primarily to appease his hardline base as the midterm elections approach.
Wolfgang Pusttai, a former defense attaché of the Austrian government, told Al Jazeera, "Regarding Trump's remarks, I would say the target audience was first and foremost Republican voters in the US. President Trump... actually does not respect international institutions very much. So, from an international perspective, whether it is legitimate or not is not a major concern for him. The same applies to Iran. Are we heading towards a situation like the law of the jungle? I fear, yes. For now, there are no indications that we will return to a position of compliance with international law anytime soon."
Pusttai added that Iran's plan to impose tolls on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz also violates international freedom of navigation. He stated, "So yes, we are currently heading toward the law of the jungle; however, the US is not solely responsible for this—similar behavior is coming from Iran as well."
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by International Desk • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
