Iran warns war could spread to Indian Ocean

Iran has warned that any further US or Israeli attacks could widen the ongoing conflict and potentially extend it to the Indian Ocean.

Safavi, an adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, said Iranian forces had prepared for possible worst-case scenarios if Iran’s facilities or national interests came under another attack.

He said Tehran could not predict the intentions of US President Donald Trump or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Safavi warned that another confrontation could expand the current conflict beyond its existing fronts.

According to Safavi, the conflict has already extended from the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz toward the Red Sea. He said a future confrontation with the United States could potentially open another front in the Indian Ocean or other areas.

The warning came amid continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear programme and the broader regional conflict.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran was misreading the US political system if it believed the November midterm elections would significantly restrict Trump’s ability to take action against Tehran.

Speaking to reporters in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Rubio said Tehran appeared to be expecting political changes after the elections. He argued that the US president retains significant authority over national security matters, including sanctions and the use of military force.

Rubio’s remarks followed comments by Trump, who said he believed the United States could reach an agreement with Iran after the November 3 midterm elections. Trump suggested that Iranian leaders might be waiting to see how his Republican Party performs in the vote.

Rubio, however, said the election outcome would not alter Trump’s approach to Iran. He described the Iranian nuclear issue as a national security matter rather than a domestic political issue.

He also said successive US administrations and other countries had maintained for decades that Iran should not obtain a nuclear weapon. According to Rubio, Trump was prepared to accept the costs of confronting the issue because he viewed the potential consequences of a nuclear-armed Iran as more serious.

Iran suspends flights to UAE

Iran has also suspended flights operated by its airlines to the United Arab Emirates, according to Iranian media, citing a spokesman for the country’s Civil Aviation Organisation.

The suspension took effect at midnight. Separately, an Iranian flight travelling from Tehran to Dushanbe was reportedly forced to return to Imam Khomeini International Airport after Turkmenistan did not grant permission for the aircraft to use its airspace.

The aviation official said the flight could not continue to its destination because the required permission to cross Turkmenistan’s airspace had not been issued.

Pezeshkian criticises European approach

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meanwhile criticised what he described as the lack of meaningful neutrality by some countries during the recent conflict.

During a meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Pezeshkian urged European countries to reconsider their policies and adopt a more independent approach.

He said European governments had reduced their ability to influence international developments by aligning themselves with US policies that Tehran considers hostile.

Pezeshkian also criticised Europe’s position on the snapback mechanism and the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. He argued that these policies had weakened Europe’s ability to play a constructive role in regional and international affairs.

The Iranian president stressed that regional security should primarily be handled by countries in the region. He also argued that Western involvement had contributed to instability beyond the region.

Costa, meanwhile, called for Europe to maintain a role in addressing regional issues.

Pezeshkian later said Iran had used its participation in the UN General Assembly to present its position and respond to US policies. He said he changed parts of his prepared speech after listening to Trump’s address.