The Iranian government has warned that it will treat any military strike against the country as an act of “open war,” coinciding with the planned arrival of a United States carrier strike group in the Middle East. This stern statement was delivered by a senior Iranian official on Thursday (Jan 23, 2026), ahead of the reinforcement of the US military presence in the region.
“We hope this military buildup is not intended for actual confrontation, but our military is prepared for the worst-case scenario. Our entire system is on high alert,” the official stated, as quoted by the Straits Times on Saturday (Jan 24, 2026).
The official emphasized that Iran will not differentiate between types of attacks. “This time, any attack—be it limited or unlimited, a military strike, kinetic, or whatever the term—will be considered an open war against Iran, and we will retaliate in the strongest possible manner,” he added.
This warning follows President Donald Trump’s announcement that Washington has deployed a military fleet toward the Iranian region. However, Trump expressed hope that the forces would not need to be used. He also reiterated warnings to Tehran to refrain from violence against protesters and not to revive its nuclear program. In response, Iranian officials asserted that the country would act decisively if its national sovereignty were violated.
While declining to detail the specific response, the official emphasized that prolonged military pressure has forced Iran to mobilize its full defensive capabilities. Analysts noted that while the US frequently increases its military presence in the Middle East during times of tension, Washington had previously conducted a massive deployment in 2025 before launching an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities in June.
Meanwhile, The Times of Israel reported that this US military buildup is also accompanied by planned visits from top US military officials to Israel, potentially adding complexity to the regional security dynamics.
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