Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned that any US attack on Iran would trigger a severe response and could escalate into a full-scale regional war across the Middle East. His remarks were reported on Monday, February 2, 2026, by BBC News, amid Western media speculation about his absence from public view. Khamenei directly addressed US President Donald Trump, criticizing repeated threats of deploying warships to the region and asserting that the Iranian people are not intimidated by such military displays.

Khamenei emphasized that Iran would never initiate conflict but would respond firmly if attacked, warning that any war would not remain limited in scope. The statement came as tensions between Tehran and Washington remained high over US military movements in the Middle East.

Despite the sharp rhetoric, Iran’s National Security Adviser Ali Larijani indicated that diplomatic efforts were still underway, confirming that discussions between the United States and Iran continued to seek a resolution to the ongoing crisis.