Iran Warns War Could Spread to Indian Ocean if US, Israel Attack Again
TEHRAN, IRAN — WEB DESK: A senior adviser to Iran’s supreme leader has warned that the conflict could expand as far as the Indian Ocean — and possibly beyond — if the United States or Israel launches further attacks on Iran, raising fresh concerns about the security of major international maritime routes.
Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior military adviser, issued the warning on Thursday in a video released by Iran’s Fars news agency.
Safavi said the conflict had already expanded geographically from the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea, adding that renewed hostilities could widen the front further.
“It is possible that, in response to more war, the front will expand even further, reaching the Indian Ocean and perhaps beyond,” Safavi said, according to AFP.
The statement is a conditional warning by an Iranian official, not an announcement that Iran has begun military operations in the Indian Ocean. Safavi also did not specify potential targets, locations or what form such an expansion could take.
Indian Ocean Warning Raises Shipping Concerns
Any expansion of hostilities towards the Indian Ocean could have implications well beyond the immediate conflict because the region connects some of the world’s most important energy and commercial shipping routes.
The Persian Gulf connects to the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean through the Strait of Hormuz, while the Red Sea provides another critical maritime corridor between Asia and Europe.
Safavi’s warning is therefore particularly significant for countries including Pakistan and India, which depend heavily on maritime trade and imported energy moving through the wider region.
However, the Iranian official did not specifically threaten Pakistan, India or commercial vessels, and there is currently no basis for interpreting his remarks as a direct threat against either country.
For India, current reporting notes that further disruption could increase pressure on energy imports, shipping costs and marine insurance because of the country’s dependence on Middle Eastern crude and major maritime trade routes.
Pakistan could similarly face exposure through energy and shipping channels if maritime instability widened, although the extent of any impact would depend on where and how a hypothetical expansion occurred.
Iran Has Issued Repeated Warnings
Safavi’s statement follows a series of warnings from Iranian military officials in recent days.
On September 21, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it was prepared for a prolonged conflict and claimed that any renewed US attack could prompt Tehran to deploy different weapons and expand the geographical scope of its response.
Iran has also warned regional governments against assisting potential US military operations against it. Iranian military authorities said countries facilitating attacks on Iran should not expect to be exempt from Tehran’s response.
These statements represent Iranian military warnings and claims and do not establish that another US or Israeli attack, or an Iranian expansion into the Indian Ocean, is imminent.
Warning Comes Amid Diplomatic Efforts
The escalation rhetoric is unfolding alongside attempts to find a diplomatic path towards ending hostilities.
Iran has presented conditions concerning the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, including demands related to US military pressure and maritime restrictions. Iranian officials say messages have been exchanged with Washington through intermediaries.
On Thursday, Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said Tehran would not reopen Hormuz or resume negotiations until its conditions were met, according to Iranian media cited by Express Urdu.
Safavi’s warning therefore comes at a moment when military deterrence rhetoric and diplomatic contacts are proceeding simultaneously.
For international shipping and energy markets, the central concern is whether the conflict remains concentrated around existing Middle Eastern flashpoints or begins affecting the wider maritime region.
At present, there is no verified evidence that the conflict has expanded into the Indian Ocean. Safavi’s remarks describe what Iran says could happen if it faces renewed US or Israeli attacks.
