|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Iran warned the United States and its regional allies Sunday that any new attack could trigger sustained retaliation across the region.
The warning came as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and threats from Washington added to tensions surrounding the wider Iran conflict.
Iran warned Sunday that any new U.S. or allied military attack would prompt retaliation against American bases and interests in the Middle East, as fighting involving Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement added another source of tension to the regional conflict. Iran’s military command said it had information indicating that a new offensive was being prepared, although it did not publicly provide details supporting that claim.
The warning followed Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, including an attack directed at Riyadh, according to Saudi authorities and regional reports. Saudi Arabia said a ballistic missile aimed at the capital was intercepted, while other attacks were reported around the kingdom. The incidents came after the Houthis made significant territorial advances along Yemen’s Red Sea coast, where fighting with Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces has intensified.
The United States has warned that the renewed fighting could escalate rapidly. The State Department issued a security alert citing the possibility of further escalation, including flight cancellations and airspace closures, while urging Americans in the region to exercise increased caution. The warning reflects concerns that fighting involving Iran, the Houthis and regional governments could create additional pressure on already disrupted transportation and energy networks.
President Donald Trump has continued to demand an agreement from Tehran while maintaining that the United States remains capable of taking further military action. Trump has also indicated that he remains open to discussions with Iranian officials, including as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. Iran, meanwhile, has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until conditions tied to an earlier ceasefire agreement are addressed.
The conflict has already placed major pressure on energy and shipping routes. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for global oil and gas shipments, while the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is an important route for international commerce. Fighting in and around Yemen has raised additional concerns over shipping security as the Houthis seek to expand their territorial control along the Red Sea coast.
The latest developments leave the broader conflict centered on competing military threats and demands for negotiations. Iran has warned that countries supporting a new U.S. operation could be treated as participants in the conflict, while Washington has continued to press Tehran for an agreement. With fighting also intensifying in Yemen, the latest threats have added another layer of uncertainty to a conflict already affecting several countries and major regional trade routes.