Iran warned Sunday that the conflict will spread geographically if the United States renews military strikes, accusing Israel of pushing for further escalation. The threat comes ahead of a meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, as reports indicate progress on talks with Oman regarding the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Times of Israel.
Iran issued a more explicit threat on Sunday afternoon, warning that any renewed US military strikes would expand the conflict geographically and directly blaming Israel for pushing Washington toward escalation. The statement, reported by the Times of Israel, comes as President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu prepare to meet, with reports of progress in Omani-mediated talks over the Strait of Hormuz. The new threat builds on an earlier warning from the Iranian army at 11:51 Jerusalem, which said the scope of fighting would widen if US attacks continued, but stopped short of singling out Israel.
The earlier warning, published by The Zioneer at 11:51 Jerusalem, was attributed to the Iranian army. The new statement, sourced to "Iran" by the Times of Israel, sharpens the message by explicitly accusing Israel of driving escalation. The shift in attribution suggests a coordinated escalation in messaging, though the source of the new statement has not been identified further.
The threat comes amid a complex diplomatic backdrop. As The Zioneer reported on July 23, President Trump threatened fresh strikes on Iran and the Houthis if Red Sea attacks resume, and warned that the "price will increase nightly." Reports from June, also covered by The Zioneer, indicated that Trump is determined to sign a deal with Iran and that Netanyahu has been pushing for an urgent meeting to influence the terms. The reported Omani mediation on the Strait of Hormuz would represent a key diplomatic channel, but its details remain unconfirmed.
The exact timing of the Trump-Netanyahu meeting has not been announced, and the status of the Omani talks is unclear. The Zioneer has not independently verified the Iranian threat.
2 developments
- DevelopingIran threatens stronger retaliation if Israel strikes, amid Trump call for talks
- DevelopingTrump warns Iran of 'much worse' strikes if Hormuz shipping attacks continue
- StrongIran threatens: further Israeli aggression will expand Tehran's response
- DevelopingIran threatens further escalation as Israeli strikes in Lebanon continue
Source and signal
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