Iran warns of wider war ahead of Trump-Netanyahu meeting
Iran has escalated its warnings that the conflict in West Asia will spread further if the United States resumes military strikes against the Islamic Republic. The statement comes just days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House amid renewed tensions over Iran.
Speaking to Iranian state television, army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia said Tehran was prepared for all possible scenarios and warned Washington against joining what he described as Israel's military campaign. His remarks follow the collapse of a fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran, raising fears of another round of regional escalation.
What did Iran say about the risk of war expanding?
Akraminia said any renewed American military action, particularly air strikes, would significantly widen the scope of the conflict. “If the Americans once again fall for the Zionists' deception and insist on continuing the war, particularly through air strikes, the conflict will expand geographically,” he said.
According to the Iranian military, the conflict has already spread beyond Iran and Israel, pointing to recent hostilities involving Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels around the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the entrance to the Red Sea. Akraminia also claimed that Iran's operational reach now extends across the region, from US military bases in Jordan to countries along the Persian Gulf.
Describing the situation facing the United States as “difficult and unsettled”, he said Washington appeared to be searching for a new strategy. “We are prepared for every option and every likely scenario,” he added.
Why is the Trump-Netanyahu meeting significant?
The warning comes ahead of Netanyahu's visit to Washington, where he is set to meet President Trump at the White House on Tuesday. According to Netanyahu's office, the Israeli leader will leave for the US on Monday. Besides his meeting with Trump, he is also expected to attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Israel's strongest supporters in the US Congress, who died last week.
Since Trump's return to the White House last year, the two leaders have met six times and have maintained close ties. Netanyahu has repeatedly described Trump as “the greatest friend” Israel has had in the White House. However, differences have surfaced in recent months, particularly over the handling of the Iran conflict and diplomatic efforts surrounding Tehran's nuclear programme.
How did the ceasefire collapse affect regional tensions?
The meeting comes after a ceasefire reached earlier this month under a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran collapsed, triggering renewed hostilities. Israel had opposed the agreement from the outset, while its continued military operations in Lebanon have complicated broader diplomatic efforts.
The Trump administration has been mediating talks between Israel and Lebanon aimed at ending the conflict without involving Hezbollah. Although both countries have agreed in principle to transfer Israeli-held areas to the Lebanese military, little has changed on the ground since March.
During a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun earlier this week, Trump did not provide a timeline for Israel's withdrawal, leaving uncertainty over the future of the negotiations as tensions continue to mount across the region.
What are the implications for Australia and the Indo-Pacific?
For Australia, the escalation in West Asia carries direct implications for maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. The Houthi activities around the Bab al-Mandab Strait threaten shipping lanes vital to global trade, including Australian exports. The deepening US-Iran standoff also tests the alliance framework that Canberra relies on for regional stability. As a liberal democracy committed to multilateralism and the rule of law, Australia will be watching closely how Washington manages this crisis without triggering a broader war that could destabilise the broader Middle East and beyond.