Tensions between the United States and Iran escalated further after Iran&rsquo;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any US attack on Iran would trigger a regional war in the Middle East. In response, US President Donald Trump said that if Tehran refuses to strike a deal with Washington, the consequences of such warnings would become clear.
Khamenei&rsquo;s remarks came amid worsening relations between Tehran and Washington. In a rare public appearance on Saturday, the Iranian leader visited the shrine of Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic, in southern Tehran. A day later, he reacted to US military threats by cautioning that any aggression against Iran would not remain limited and would escalate into a wider regional conflict.
The Supreme Leader also asserted that Iran does not seek war or aggression but would respond forcefully if attacked or threatened. He dismissed US military posturing in the Middle East, stating that Iran would not be intimidated by the presence of American naval forces in the region.
Responding to Khamenei&rsquo;s warning, Trump told reporters that the US has deployed some of its most powerful warships close to Iran and expressed hope that both sides could still reach an agreement. He added that failure to reach a deal would test whether Iran&rsquo;s warnings were justified.
The US recently deployed the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln along with additional warships to the Arabian Sea near Iran. Trump has linked the show of force to Iran&rsquo;s nuclear programme and Washington&rsquo;s demand that Tehran halt its violent crackdown on protesters.
Although Trump has not clearly stated whether military action is imminent, he has repeatedly said that Iran is interested in negotiations. He maintained that a satisfactory deal is necessary to ensure Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons, while expressing uncertainty over whether Tehran would ultimately agree.
Meanwhile, protests in Iran and the government&rsquo;s response have drawn international attention. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has reported that more than 6,700 people have been killed and over 49,000 detained during the crackdown. Iranian authorities, however, have placed the death toll at just over 3,100 as of January 21.
Khamenei has described the nationwide protests as an attempted coup and said the unrest had been suppressed. He accused protesters of targeting key state institutions, security forces, religious sites, and public infrastructure. Sedition charges in Iran can reportedly carry the death penalty, raising concerns in Washington over the possibility of mass executions, an outcome Trump has previously described as unacceptable.

US-Iran tensions rise as Trump links military threat to nuclear deal talks

Trump Warns Iran After Khamenei’s War Threat

US-Iran tensions rise as Trump links military threat to nuclear deal talks

February 2, 2026 | 11:31 IST