Khamenei warns of 'regional war' if US attacks Iran

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Sunday of a "regional war" if the United States attacked after Washington's recent military build-up in the Gulf.

The US has significantly expanded its naval presence in the Middle East after President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to intervene unless Iran agreed to a nuclear deal and ended its violent suppression of protesters.

"The Americans should know that if they start a war, this time it will be a regional war," state media quoted Khamenei as saying.

Earlier this week, Trump said a "massive armada" was heading towards the Islamic Republic. The US Navy currently has six destroyers, one aircraft carrier, and three littoral combat ships in the region.

"[Trump] regularly says that he brought ships... The Iranian nation shall not be scared by these things, the Iranian people will not be stirred by these threats," Khamenei said.

"We are not the initiators and do not want to attack any country, but the Iranian nation will strike a strong blow against anyone who attacks and harasses them."

A diplomatic solution remains on the cards, with Tehran saying it is ready for "fair" negotiations that do not seek to curtail its defensive capabilities.

The protests, which started in late December over an economic crisis marked by soaring inflation and rising living costs, have now abated following a wave of repression.

Khamenei likened the protests to a "coup", saying that the goal of the "sedition" was to attack the centres that govern the country, state media reported.

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Official figures put the unrest-related death toll at 3,117, while the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, a rights group, said on Sunday it had so far verified the death of 6,713 people.

Middle East Eye reported on Monday that Trump was considering precision strikes on "high-value" Iranian officials and commanders it deemed responsible for the deaths of protesters during anti-government demonstrations earlier this month.

The violent crackdown on protesters prompted the European Union to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation, with Iranian lawmakers retaliating on Sunday by slapping the same designation on European armies.

While Iran and the US have exchanged warnings over possible military action, both sides still appear to be leaving the door open to negotiations.

Ali Larijani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Saturday: "Contrary to the hype of the contrived media war, structural arrangements for negotiations are progressing." 

Trump also confirmed that dialogue was taking place, but without withdrawing his earlier threats, adding, "We'll see what happens".