Iran Says It Is in ‘Full-Scale War’ With America as Regional Fighting Intensifies

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that his country is engaged in a “full-scale war” with the United States, as renewed military exchanges between Tehran and Washington deepen fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East.

Pezeshkian made the statement on Monday as the United States expanded its strikes against targets inside Iran, with attacks reported in several parts of the country, including areas beyond those surrounding the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

“The reality is that today the Islamic Republic of Iran is engaged in a full-scale war,” Pezeshkian said, according to a statement from the Iranian presidency.

He added that Iran must “accept the natural consequences” of what he described as the country’s continued resistance.

The latest escalation follows the collapse of a weeks-long ceasefire arrangement reached in June, triggering renewed hostilities between the two countries and pushing global oil prices higher amid concerns over disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, a key route through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supplies previously passed.

Iran has since resumed restrictions around the waterway, while the United States has intensified pressure on Iranian ports and military infrastructure.

US Strikes Hit Areas Housing Military Sites

Iranian state media and local officials reported fresh US strikes on Monday in northern and central parts of the country.

Authorities in Bushehr province, where Iran’s only operational civilian nuclear power plant is located, said several areas of the city were hit.

“Several locations in Bushehr city were hit by American enemy’s projectiles,” Bushehr Governor Mohammad Mozaffari told state news agency IRNA.

In East Azerbaijan province, local crisis management officials reported that one person was killed and several others injured following an attack.

The affected provinces reportedly host military bases and air defence installations.

Iran Retaliates Across Region

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it carried out attacks against targets linked to US interests in parts of the region, including Bahrain, Jordan and Syria.

The IRGC claimed it struck a US military aircraft facility in Jordan and targeted military infrastructure in Kuwait, including an early-warning radar system.

Kuwaiti authorities said their air defence systems were responding to drone attacks following what they described as Iranian aggression.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry also reported activating air raid warnings and advised residents to move to safe locations.

Diplomatic Channels Remain Open

Despite the escalation, Iranian officials said diplomatic contacts with Washington were continuing through intermediaries.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said mediators had continued to relay proposals between the two sides.

“Ideas have been conveyed to us by certain mediators,” he said during a press briefing in Tehran.

Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni was also expected to travel to Pakistan, one of the countries involved in diplomatic efforts, although officials did not disclose details of the visit.

Strait of Hormuz Tensions Rise

The conflict has also affected maritime activity around the Strait of Hormuz.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that sailors abandoned a vessel after it caught fire in an attack in the area.

The Revolutionary Guards separately claimed that two oil tankers attempting to pass through the strait were struck and forced to stop.

The United States has urged countries worldwide to contribute to protecting international shipping routes, while Iran has warned that the waterway cannot be used to threaten its security interests.

The conflict has already resulted in casualties on both sides. The US military has confirmed American fatalities since the fighting began, while Iranian authorities have reported deaths and injuries from recent strikes.

With military operations continuing and diplomatic efforts uncertain, fears are growing that the confrontation could expand into a broader regional crisis.

AFP