Iran says fighting ‘full-scale war’ with US
The Middle East war resumed after a weeks-long lull prompted by an agreement signed in June, and oil prices surged to a month high
Iran is fighting a “full-scale war” with the United States, its president said on Monday, as Washington expanded its strikes across the Islamic republic.
The declaration came as Tehran’s Yemeni allies, the Houthi rebels, threatened to broaden the war even further by announcing they would blockade Saudi ports, putting at risk Riyadh’s ability to bypass the Strait of Hormuz for some of its oil exports.
Throughout the war, which began in late February, Iran has hit countries across the region, saying it was targeting US assets, with the Revolutionary Guards saying on Monday they hit sites in Bahrain, Jordan and Syria.
But the Houthis have remained on the sidelines until now.
“The reality is that today the Islamic Republic of Iran is engaged in a full-scale war,” said President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to a presidency statement.
His comments came after state media and local authorities reported US strikes on Monday in the north and centre of the country.