Iran Warns of Wider War if U.S. and Israel Resume Strikes
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard issued a stark warning Wednesday that any renewed assault by the U.S. and Israel would trigger a conflict stretching far outside the Middle East, CNBC reported.
The Guard stated that renewed aggression would see the threatened regional war extend well beyond its current boundaries. It warned that retaliatory strikes would reach places its adversaries could not anticipate, citing total ruin as the outcome.
Mixed Signals From Washington
The threat lands against a backdrop of contradictory messaging from the Trump administration. President Donald Trump told lawmakers at the White House on Tuesday that Washington intended to resolve the Iran war rapidly. He claimed Tehran was actively seeking a deal.
Vice President JD Vance separately told reporters that neither side wanted the military campaign to restart. He described the state of negotiations as being in a reasonably constructive place. Vance also pushed back on any notion of open-ended military entanglement, stating the operation would conclude and forces would return home.
Trump had nonetheless kept pressure on Tehran through a series of deadlines, warning Iran it had days to engage diplomatically. He also acknowledged coming close to ordering a strike on Tuesday before pulling back at the last moment.
How the Iran War Started and Where It Stands
The conflict began on February 28, and has now lasted far longer than the four-to-six-week window the Trump administration initially projected. A ceasefire has been in place for weeks, but neither side has secured a formal resolution.
The key pressure point remains the Strait of Hormuz. Under normal conditions, roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas transits the waterway. Since hostilities began, commercial shipping through the strait has essentially stopped.
Economic and Political Costs Mount
Energy markets have watched the standoff closely, with oil prices shifting on each diplomatic signal from Washington. CNBC reported earlier this week that crude slipped after Trump expressed optimism about a swift end to the war.
Domestically, American public opinion has shifted against the conflict. Recent polling indicates growing majorities now view the war unfavorably, adding political urgency to any potential deal.
The Revolutionary Guard’s latest statement suggests Tehran is not prepared to accept terms under military pressure alone. Whether Washington treats the warning as a negotiating posture or a credible escalation threat may determine the conflict’s next turn.
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