Tehran (TDI): Iran has warned that any renewed US or Israeli military action could widen the ongoing conflict beyond the Gulf and Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, as Washington signalled that US policy toward Tehran would not be significantly affected by the upcoming midterm elections.
Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said Iranian forces had prepared for worst-case scenarios in the event of further attacks against the country’s facilities or national interests.
“We do not know what is going on in the minds of Trump and Netanyahu,” Shamkhani said, referring to US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He said the conflict had already expanded from the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea, warning that a further confrontation could potentially extend to the Indian Ocean or other areas.
The remarks came as tensions between Tehran and Washington remained high, with both sides issuing warnings over the possibility of renewed military confrontation.
Read More: Iran Proposes 60-Day Regional Ceasefire and Phased Reopening of Hormuz
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, said Iran was misreading the US political system if it believed November’s midterm elections could limit Trump’s ability to take action against Tehran.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Rubio said Iranian officials appeared to believe that a Democratic victory in the November 3 elections could constrain the Trump administration.
Rubio argued that the US president retains significant authority over national security matters, including sanctions and the use of military force.
His comments came a day after Trump told the UN General Assembly that he expected Washington and Tehran to reach an agreement after the midterm elections.
Trump said Iranian leaders were waiting to assess the Republican Party’s performance in the elections before making decisions on negotiations.
Rubio said the outcome of the elections would not alter Trump’s approach to Iran, arguing that Washington views the Iranian nuclear program primarily as a national security issue.
Read More: Putin, MBS Discuss Gulf Security as Iran-US Tensions Persist
He also said successive US administrations and other governments had sought to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon for decades, while arguing that Trump was prepared to accept the costs associated with confronting the issue.
Meanwhile, Iran has suspended all flights operated by Iranian airlines to the United Arab Emirates, according to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), citing a spokesman for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization.
The suspension reportedly took effect from midnight on Thursday, although no further details were immediately provided on the reason for the decision.
