Any U.S. attack on Iran would ignite a regional war in the Middle East, the country's supreme leader warned Sunday, escalating tensions as President Donald Trump has threatened military action over Tehranβs crackdown on nationwide protests.
The comments from the 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are the most direct threat heβs made so far as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and associated American warships are in the Arabian Sea, sent by Trump there after Tehran's crackdown.
It remains unclear whether Trump will use force. He's repeatedly said Iran wants to negotiate and has brought up Tehran's nuclear program as another issue he wants to see resolved.
But Khamenei also referred to the nationwide protests as "a coup," hardening the government's position as tens of thousands of people reportedly have been detained since the start of the demonstrations.
Sedition charges in Iran can carry the d
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