Iran signals readiness to escalate fight as US pressure intensifies

Iran is ready for a more intense war and will escalate its counterstrikes if US attacks continue, a senior Iranian official has said, insisting Tehran will not back down despite an American naval blockade and attacks on its oil tankers.

As reported by the Los Angeles Times, citing Bloomberg News, the official said Iran has spent months rebuilding its missile arsenal since fighting eased in April and now has enough weapons for a prolonged conflict.

Tensions escalated further this week after Washington said it destroyed five Iranian tankers following an attempted strike on a US warship, prompting Iran to fire roughly 20 missiles at a US-linked airbase in Jordan.

The clashes pushed Brent crude above $100 a barrel, adding economic pressure on President Trump ahead of November’s midterms.

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, declared the era of “proportionate responses” over, while security chief Mohsen Rezaee said the country’s military posture toward US forces had been “fundamentally recalibrated.”

Despite inflation nearing 90%, Iranian leaders say they see little choice but to keep fighting.