A senior Iranian official has warned that the country will treat any attack “as an all-out war against us” ahead of the arrival of a US aircraft carrier strike group and other assets in the region.
The warning and surge in US military presence comes almost two weeks after Donald Trump urged Iranian protesters – thousands of whom have been killed by Iranian forces – to keep demonstrating and promised that “help is on the way”.
“This military buildup – we hope it is not intended for real confrontation – but our military is ready for the worst-case scenario. This is why everything is on high alert in Iran,” said the Iranian official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The official went on to say: “This time we will treat any attack – limited, unlimited, surgical, kinetic, whatever they call it – as an all-out war against us, and we will respond in the hardest way possible to settle this.”
President Trump said on Thursday that the US had an “armada” heading toward Iran but hoped he would not have to use it, as he renewed warnings to Tehran against killing protesters or restarting its nuclear programme.
“If the Americans violate Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will respond,” said the Iranian official.
He declined to specify what an Iranian response might look like.
‘He was bleeding for 40 minutes, gasping for life’: The dying moments of an aspiring Iranian rapper
Hackers target Iranian state TV as exiled crown prince tells military to ‘join the people’
Rapper describes ‘massacre’ on Iran’s streets – as supreme leader says thousands killed in protests
Read more from Sky News:
How close is a peace deal in Ukraine?
Special relationship turns toxic after NATO troop comments
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
The US military has in the past periodically sent increased forces to the Middle East at times of heightened tensions, moves that were often seen as defensive.
However, the US military staged a major buildup last year ahead of its launching airstrikes against Iran‘s nuclear programme in June.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Another buildup was seen in the Caribbean towards the end of last year before the US launched military action against Venezuela and captured the country’s president Nicolas Maduro.
