Iran has issued its starkest warning yet to the United States, declaring that any American military strike, no matter how limited, would be treated as an “all-out war,” as Washington moves a major naval force closer to Iranian waters. A senior Iranian official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said Tehran was on maximum alert amid what it described as a worrying US military buildup. “This military buildup, we hope it is not intended for real confrontation, but our military is ready for the worst-case scenario,” the official said.
“This time we will treat any attack, limited, unlimited, surgical, kinetic, whatever they call it, as an all-out war against us, and we will respond in the hardest way possible to settle this,” the official added.
Trump Confirms Major US Naval Deployment
The warning followed comments by US President Donald Trump, who confirmed that American naval forces were moving toward Iran. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday, Trump said the deployment was precautionary.
“We’re watching Iran… we have a lot of ships going that direction just in case,” Trump said. “We have a big flotilla going in that direction… a big force going towards Iran. I’d rather not see anything happening, but we have an armada, a massive fleet, heading that way.”
Trump’s Earlier Message To Iranians
The escalation comes nearly two weeks after Trump publicly urged Iranians to continue anti-government protests, promising that “help is on the way.” Those remarks drew sharp criticism from Tehran, which accused Washington of interfering in its internal affairs. The protests have since diminished following a severe crackdown by Iranian security forces.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 5,137 protesters have been killed since demonstrations began on December 28. HRANA said 12,904 deaths are under review, while some unconfirmed estimates place the toll at over 20,000.
The agency also reported that more than 7,400 people have been seriously injured and over 27,000 protesters arrested during the unrest.
Iranian officials stressed that internal unrest would not weaken the country’s response to external threats. “If the Americans violate Iran’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, or airspace, it will be considered an all-out war,” the senior official said.