Iran has warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict could expand into the Indian Ocean if the United States or Israel launches another attack, adding a new dimension to already heightened tensions across the region.
Yahya Rahim Safavi, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, issued the warning in a video released by Iran’s Fars news agency on Thursday. Safavi said the conflict had already expanded from the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea. He suggested that further military action could push the confrontation toward the Indian Ocean and potentially beyond.
The statement did not announce a specific Iranian military operation, target or timetable. Instead, Safavi presented the possible expansion as a response to another US or Israeli attack. His remarks come amid continuing tensions over strategic maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
The Indian Ocean is particularly significant because it carries major commercial and energy traffic connecting the Middle East, South Asia, Africa and other regions. Any widening of hostilities into these waters could therefore have implications for shipping and regional security. Analysts have also highlighted the strategic importance of the wider maritime area, including the US-British military facility at Diego Garcia.
The warning comes as Washington and Tehran remain locked in a broader confrontation, while diplomatic contacts have continued around the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Iran has previously threatened retaliation against further military action.
For now, Safavi’s comments represent a warning of possible escalation rather than confirmation that Iran has decided to open a new front in the Indian Ocean.
