Dubai, UAE — Iran says it has received information that the United States is preparing a new round of attacks and has warned Washington and regional countries supporting it that any fresh strike would trigger retaliation “without limitations”.
The warning came as US President Donald Trump said he was considering three options for dealing with Tehran — reaching a deal, allowing Iran to “rot economically” or “obliterating” the country. Trump has also indicated he remains open to diplomacy as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected in New York for the UN General Assembly.
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said on Sunday that, according to information it had received, Washington had decided to resume actions against Iran with the backing of some regional countries. It did not provide details of the intelligence behind the assessment.
The Iranian military warned that any new US attack would be met with sustained retaliation against US bases and interests in the region. It also warned regional governments that support for a US offensive would make them “complicit” in the attacks.
The escalation comes despite signs that diplomatic channels remain open. Iran’s security chief Mohsen Rezaei said Tehran had conveyed conditions for ending the war to Washington through Qatari mediators.
Those conditions include an end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds, an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and a halt to US interference in Iran’s internal affairs. Tehran also wants an end to US attacks on Iranian territory.
Rezaei said Iran was prepared for further attacks, warning that Tehran would respond with “greater force” and “more numerous and more painful strikes”.
Trump, meanwhile, has described the choices facing Washington in stark terms. In comments to Fox News, he said Iran could make a deal, face severe economic pressure or be “wiped out”, while saying Tehran should “behave”.
The exchange of threats comes as the conflict continues to disrupt energy markets and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil and gas supplies.
Only 12 commodity vessels passed through Hormuz over the weekend, compared with 35 the previous weekend, according to Reuters data. Before the war, around 125 large commercial vessels passed through the waterway each day.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the strait would remain closed until the US fulfilled its commitments under the interim peace deal signed in June. The US is also maintaining a blockade of Iran’s southern ports, while the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency has continued to classify the threat level in the waterway as severe.
Despite the disruption, oil prices eased on Monday as markets responded to renewed hopes for diplomacy. Brent crude fell to $101.71 a barrel, its lowest level since September 10, while US West Texas Intermediate declined to $98.15. Reuters attributed the move partly to expectations that diplomatic efforts could reduce the conflict’s risk premium.
Qatar has meanwhile called for a broader regional security framework with Iran. Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said the Gulf would not be the same after the war without arrangements ensuring that countries respect each other’s sovereignty and do not pose threats to one another.
The diplomatic push comes as fighting also continues beyond Iran. In Yemen, Houthi forces and Saudi-backed forces are engaged in fierce fighting, while the Houthis have claimed Saudi air attacks across several provinces. The escalation has added another layer to the regional security and energy crisis.
For now, Washington and Tehran remain publicly far apart, with Iran demanding an end to US military and economic pressure while Trump continues to hold out both negotiation and further escalation as options. Reuters reported that neither side appeared ready for major concessions despite the continuing diplomatic contacts.
