Iran Warns War Could Spread to Indian Ocean If US Strikes Again

An adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned on Thursday that Tehran could expand the Middle East conflict as far as the Indian Ocean if the United States or Israel launches another attack on Iran. The warning came hours before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly, and as President Donald Trump threatened in his own UN speech to "annihilate" the Islamic Republic if a peace deal is not reached. According to the adviser, the conflict that began in late February between the US and Iran has already spread from the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea, where the Houthis are active, and could extend "perhaps beyond" into the Indian Ocean. The statement was carried by multiple international outlets, including France 24, NDTV, To Vima, SigmaLive and News18, with NDTV framing the warning as a major risk for India's trade and energy security. No specific military action or timeline was announced, and the warning remains a rhetorical escalation rather than a confirmed operational plan. The US and Israeli governments have not publicly responded to the adviser's remarks, and it is unclear whether the threat reflects a formal policy shift or a negotiating posture ahead of any potential peace talks.

Global Impact

Geopolitically, the warning widens the perceived theater of the US-Iran confrontation from the Persian Gulf and Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, a corridor that carries a large share of global energy and container trade, raising the risk premium on shipping and insurance. Economically, any credible expansion would pressure oil prices, freight costs and Asian import bills, with India, Japan and South Korea most exposed to Gulf crude disruptions.