Iran has issued a sharp warning to the United States, saying any military attack will be treated as an “all-out war”, as Washington deploys an aircraft carrier strike group
Tehran: A senior Iranian official has warned that Tehran will respond with maximum force to any US attack, describing the current American military build-up in the Middle East as a serious escalation. The warning comes ahead of the arrival of a US aircraft carrier strike group and other military assets in the region.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said Iran’s armed forces are on high alert and prepared for a worst-case scenario according to Reuters report. While expressing hope that the US deployment is not intended for direct confrontation, the official stressed that even limited or “surgical” strikes would be treated as full-scale war.
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The remarks follow recent US-backed Israeli strikes aimed at weakening Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, which have kept regional tensions elevated. US President Donald Trump confirmed the deployment of what he described as a “massive fleet” towards Iran, saying Washington is closely monitoring Tehran’s actions and that the military presence is intended as a precaution.
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The Pentagon has dispatched the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier along with three destroyers, adding around 5,700 US personnel to the region. The carrier group, currently in the Indian Ocean, is expected to join other US naval forces stationed in the Persian Gulf and Bahrain. Additional deployments include US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets and British Typhoon aircraft sent to Qatar in a defensive role.
Analysts have observed a surge in US military cargo flights to the region, drawing comparisons to rapid deployments seen after previous strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Trump has indicated that the military presence is a deterrent, but left open the possibility of action if Iran escalates tensions.
The external pressure comes as Iran faces widespread domestic unrest. Protests that began in late December over economic hardship and political repression have reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests, according to activist groups. Iranian authorities have disputed these figures and blamed foreign interference for the unrest.
Senior Iranian military leaders have warned the US and Israel against miscalculations, saying American bases and interests would become legitimate targets if Iran is attacked. President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused Washington and Tel Aviv of exploiting internal protests as retaliation for recent military setbacks, while the Revolutionary Guards have reiterated their readiness for what they describe as the “hardest response possible.”
Published: 24 Jan 2026, 11:06 am IST
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