ALBAWABA - Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, made a rare public appearance this week. He gave a harsh warning that any armed conflict involving Iran would quickly turn into a regional war, as tensions between Iran and the US and Israel rise.
Khamenei was seen by the public at an event in Tehran. It was one of his most public appearances in recent months, at a time when there is a lot of talk about Iran's security. Associated Press reports that the Iranian leader used the event to stress that Tehran does not want war but will react decisively if it is attacked, saying that the effects would be felt far beyond Iran's borders.
Khamenei said, "This time, it will not stay limited," referring to a possible military rise in tensions. A report from AP News said that he also said, "Any act of aggression will turn into a regional conflict." This meant that U.S. allies in the Middle East could be involved in a bigger fight.
The warning comes at a time when the Middle East is less stable than usual, with more military bases being set up and battles still going on. Reuters reported that Iranian officials have recently stepped up their rhetoric in response to what they see as growing pressure from Washington and Tel Aviv, especially over Iran's military power and influence in the area.
Along with what he said in public, Khamenei pushed his message even further online. Ynet, an Israeli news source, said that the leader of Iran sent a message to Israelis in Hebrew warning them that any attack on Iran would start a war in the region that would spread to many fronts. A lot of people saw the move as a clear psychological message to Israel and its allies.
According to analysts quoted by Reuters, Khamenei's return and blunt language show that Tehran wants to show its strength while avoiding direct military action. They also say that the time of the speech suggests Iran is trying to change the way deterrence works by stressing how expensive it is to escalate.
Tensions are still high, and Khamenei's message makes it clear that if a future war started, it would not be stopped, and the Middle East would have to deal with all of its effects.
