Iran army warns new US attack would widen war

Iran's army warned Saturday that any new US attack would spread the war over a wider area, as Qatar and Pakistan continue mediation efforts aimed at preventing more fighting.

Iranian army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said in a post on X that if the US president again undertook what he called regional adventurism, "the flames of war" would cover a wider geographical area. He did not give details.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said Saturday that Iran's armed forces would respond to anyone who harmed the Iranian people.

A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday for talks with senior Iranian officials. Qatar and Pakistan have been mediating between the warring parties, but the talks have not produced a lasting agreement.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that US Vice President JD Vance had sent a letter to Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei, at President Donald Trump's direction, in an effort to revive negotiations and avert further US strikes. Iran has confirmed receiving the letter but has not announced a response.

The war began in late February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military commanders. Iran then targeted US assets across the Middle East and Israel. Recent hostilities have focused on the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blockaded since the start of the war, while the US has been blockading Iranian ports.