Iran warns new US attacks could push war into Indian Ocean

New Threat

Iran warned Thursday that renewed U.S. attacks could push the conflict from the Persian Gulf and Red Sea into the Indian Ocean. Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior aide to the supreme leader, told Fars news agency that the front could move beyond the Indian Ocean if fighting continues.

Background

The war, which began after U.S.-Israeli strikes in February, has already spread from the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea. Yemen’s Houthi rebels now control the Bab al‑Mandab strait, a key chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Suez Canal. Iran supplies weapons to the Houthis but says it is not a party to the Yemeni fight. In retaliation, Tehran has blocked the Hormuz strait, a vital route for global oil and gas.

Strategic Implications

The Indian Ocean hosts the U.S.–British base at Diego Garcia, located about 4,000 km from Tehran. Safavi’s warning marks the first time an Iranian official has named this area as a possible new front.

Diplomatic Moves

U.S. and Iranian officials met in New York during the UN General Assembly to discuss ending the war. Tehran’s peace terms include lifting all economic sanctions and freeing its frozen overseas assets. Revolutionary Guard spokesperson Hossein Mohebi also said Iran wants the fighting in Yemen to stop. Both sides remain on high alert as naval vessels continue to patrol the contested waterways. Analysts say any move into the Indian Ocean could draw other powers into the dispute.