U.S. NAVAL PRESENCE NEAR IRAN GROWS – Iran’s supreme leader warns of regional conflict if the US attacks
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that if the U.S. attacked Iran, it would create a regional conflict, state media reported on Sunday, February 1st, amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran.
The U.S. has built up its naval presence in the Middle East after President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened Iran with intervention if it did not agree to a nuclear deal or failed to stop killing protesters.
Khamenei said, “(President Trump) regularly says that he has sent ships (…) The Iranian nation shall not be scared by these things; the Iranian people will not be stirred by these threats.”
“We are not the initiators and do not want to attack any country, but the Iranian nation will strike a strong blow against anyone who attacks and harasses them.”
A diplomatic solution remains on the cards, with Tehran saying it is ready for “fair” negotiations that do not seek to curtail its defensive capabilities.
The U.S. Navy currently has six destroyers, one aircraft carrier, and three littoral combat ships in the region.
