Iran army says war to ‘expand further’ if U.S. attacks restart
The Iranian army has warned that any U.S. military strikes against the country will lead to a wider regional conflict. This statement comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.
Why it matters
Heightened rhetoric between Iran and the U.S. increases the risk of military escalation in the Middle East, impacting global security and energy markets.
Iran's army warned on Sunday (July 26, 2026) that the war in West Asia would widen if the United States chose to press ahead with attacks on the Islamic republic, ahead of the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington.
"I believe that if the Americans once again fall for the Zionists' deception, or move in line with them, and insist on continuing the war, particularly through air strikes, geographically this will expand further," army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia told state television.
He said the war had already expanded to the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the entrance of the Red Sea, referencing the recent military flare-up between Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia.
"The scope of our operations now encompasses the entire region, from U.S. bases in Jordan to the countries along the Persian Gulf," he said.
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