Tehran(The COW News Digital) Iran has warned that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could expand to the Indian Ocean if the United States or Israel launches another attack on Tehran.
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. He said the geographical scope of the conflict could widen beyond the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
Safavi said that if further fighting takes place, the front could extend to the Indian Ocean and potentially beyond. His remarks were framed as a warning about the possible geographical expansion of the conflict, although he did not specify what type of military action Iran might undertake in the Indian Ocean or identify particular targets.
The statement comes amid continuing tensions involving the United States, Iran and Israel. The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a major flashpoint during the conflict, while instability has also affected maritime activity around the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The strategic importance of the waterways has raised concerns about international shipping and energy supplies. Reuters reported earlier this week that commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had fallen sharply amid the ongoing tensions.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy routes, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Indian Ocean. Any prolonged disruption in the area could have wider implications for maritime trade, oil shipments and regional supply chains.
Iran has also indicated through diplomatic channels that it is prepared to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz under certain conditions. According to Reuters, Tehran has linked the reopening of the waterway to a reduction in US military pressure and the lifting of a blockade on Iranian ports.
The latest warning comes as diplomatic efforts continue alongside the military confrontation. Iranian officials have been using the United Nations General Assembly in New York to communicate Tehran’s position, while indirect discussions between Iran and the United States have continued through intermediaries.
Safavi’s comments therefore add another dimension to the ongoing crisis, particularly because the Indian Ocean connects the Middle East with major maritime routes serving South Asia, East Africa and international energy markets.
For now, the statement remains a warning about a possible future expansion of the conflict rather than an announcement of a specific Iranian military operation in the Indian Ocean. The precise implications of such an expansion remain unclear and would depend on developments in the wider US-Iran-Israel confrontation.
The warning nevertheless highlights the broader regional risks created by continued fighting around the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea, where disruptions are already affecting commercial shipping and energy transportation.
