A senior official within Iran's leadership declared on Friday that the country intends to interpret any military attack against it as a full-scale war. This declaration coincides with the imminent arrival of a U.S. military carrier strike group and additional assets to the Middle East, an event anticipated in the upcoming days.
The official, who chose to remain unnamed, remarked, "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."
Clarifying Iran's stance, the official stated, "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."
U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier indicated on Thursday that America has a sizable naval 'armada' en route to Iran. Although he expressed hope to avoid conflict, Trump reiterated warnings directed at Tehran against harming protesters or reviving its nuclear program.
The Iranian official affirmed Iran’s position on sovereignty, saying, "If the Americans violate Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will respond." The official, however, abstained from detailing potential modes of retaliation.
Further emphasizing Iran’s position, the official noted, "A country under constant military threat from the United States has no option but to ensure that everything at its disposal can be used to push back and, if possible, restore balance against anyone who dares to attack Iran."
Historically, the U.S. military has periodically increased its presence in the Middle East during times of intensified tension, often as a defensive measure. Notably, a substantial American military buildup occurred last year in anticipation of strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear program in June.