Iran Warns of the Spread of War to the Region

Facing the risk of direct U.S. involvement in the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, Iranian officials indirectly warned that they would target regional oil infrastructure in the event of U.S. military intervention.  

• June 17: In a phone conversation with his Polish counterpart, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of the spread of the conflict between Iran and Israel. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported: 

• • “The Zionist regime’s attack against Iran not only violates the charter of the United Nations and international law but also constitutes an immediate threat to world peace and stability.” 

• • Pointing at Israel’s targeting of Iran’s oil infrastructure in the Gulf, Araghchi warned of the risk of the “spread” of the conflict to the region and asserted: “The Iranian nation will defend itself by all means against this savage attack.”  

• June 17: Supreme National Security Council mouthpiece Nour News warned that the Gulf would be “on the verge of explosion” if the United States were to involve itself in the conflict. An anonymous Nour News analyst argued:  

• • “Why would Trump want to enter a war that ruins all of his economic and geopolitical gains in the Persian Gulf region? Trump’s threat is just to strengthen his bargaining position and not a prelude to involvement in the fight … Separately, U.S. entanglement in a real war against Iran will have catastrophic consequences for U.S. interests in the region … Disruption in oil exports, explosion in the oil price in the global energy markets … are some of the consequences of such a war.” 

The views represented herein are the author's or speaker's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of AGSI, its staff, or its board of directors.