Iran war spreads to Red Sea and Caspian as Gulf quiet
Iran has warned that the Middle East conflict could expand geographically if the United States continues military strikes. Meanwhile, the U.S. has paused its recent escalation, with President Trump signaling a preference for diplomacy despite maintaining a naval blockade.
Why it matters
The shifting rhetoric between Iran and the U.S. suggests a volatile period of brinkmanship that could impact global oil markets and regional stability.
Iran's army has said that the Middle East war 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 US bases in Jordan to the countries along the Persian Gulf," he said.
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