Iranian military: “If the US attacks, US assets outside West Asia will also be attacked in all directions”

(Cairo = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Sang-hoon = While U.S. President Donald Trump has been hinting at the possibility of resuming military strikes against Iran, he issued a warning message that Iranian forces are ready to strike U.S. assets outside West Asia.

According to Iran's state-run IRIB broadcast on the 1st (local time), Iranian military spokesman Brigadier General Akhrami-Nia predicted widespread retaliation against US military moves in a statement.

This statement is a direct response to the recent move by the United States to prepare for a re-strike, with President Trump directly mentioning the possibility of a strong military strike targeting Iran.

“Any further military provocations by the United States will be met with an immediate, devastating and far more extensive response than before,” Akrami-Nia warned.

In particular, he emphasized that if the United States undertakes new military actions, American facilities, equipment, troops, and interests wherever they are accessible may become targets for Iran.

He strongly hinted at an extra-regional expansion of the battlefield, saying, "Enemies should not be mistaken in thinking that the scope of Iran's response will be limited to specific geographic areas where past conflicts have occurred, such as the Middle East."

Spokesperson Akrami-Nia also claimed that in the event of an armed conflict, the initiative lies with Iran and a long-term war will be inevitable.

“Potential future conflicts could be much longer than before, and the president of the United States will not be able to determine when and under what terms that war will end,” he said.

“The American people and their European allies must also be clear that Iran will play a key role in determining the outcome of any future conflict,” he added.

This 'river-to-river' confrontation between the two sides is intensifying as attempts at peace negotiations through mediating countries are in danger of being virtually defeated.

Neighboring countries, including Qatar, are putting all their efforts into diplomatic mediation behind the scenes to revive the deadlocked negotiations between the two countries, but as the level of pressure from the United States increases and Iran also holds firm, the negotiations are hardly finding a breakthrough.