Iran’s top military commander has warned that even the “slightest mistake” by the United States would trigger a regional war, Iranian state media reported on Monday, as tensions continue to escalate in West Asia.
According to the official news agency of Iran, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi made the remarks during a visit to a military unit on Sunday night, reacting to what he described as a U.S. military buildup in the region.
“The slightest mistake will give Iran the freedom to take action. Then, no American will be safe and the region’s fire will burn the United States and its associates,” Mousavi was quoted as saying.
Responding to speculation about a possible U.S. naval blockade, the Iranian general said that Iran cannot be blockaded, rejecting the effectiveness of such a move.
The warning follows recent statements by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said a “massive armada,” led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, was moving toward Iran. Trump also warned that “time is running out” for Tehran to reach a deal with Washington.
On Sunday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that any war initiated by the United States against Iran would not remain limited and would instead become regional in nature.
Earlier, Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to the supreme leader, said that any U.S. military action, from any source and at any level, would be considered the start of war, prompting an immediate and unprecedented response from Iran.
