Motorists drive past a large political banner depicting missiles being fired at the back of Iranian protesters in a show of solidarity with the government, at Valiyasar Square in Tehran on April 6, 2026.
flour edge AFP | getty images
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard issued a strongly worded statement on Wednesday threatening to escalate the Middle East conflict “beyond the region” if the US and Israel resume attacks against Tehran.
If aggression against Iran is repeated, Guard said, “the regional war that was promised will this time be extended beyond the region, and our crushing attacks will devastate you in places you cannot imagine.” statement Reported by the country’s semi-official Mehr news agency.
The comments come on the heels of some mixed messages from the Trump administration on the possibility of a deal to resolve the Iran war.
US President Donald Trump told lawmakers at the White House on Tuesday that Washington would end the conflict with Tehran “very quickly”, claiming Iran was eager to reach a deal.
US Vice President JD Vance said in a separate press briefing that neither Trump nor Tehran wanted military operations to resume, calling talks between the US and Iran in a “very good” place.
Asked about the length of the conflict, Vance said Tuesday, “This is not a war that’s going to last forever. We’ll take care of business and come home.”
Trump had previously threatened further military action against Iran, saying the country had two or three days, or perhaps until Sunday or early next week, to come to the negotiating table.
The US president also said he was “an hour away” from deciding whether to attack Iran on Tuesday, before he was persuaded to postpone the strike.
This photo obtained by AFP from Iranian news agency Tasnim shows an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) boat reportedly taking part in an operation to seize ships attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz on April 21, 2026.
Mesam Mirzadeh AFP | getty images
The Iran war has been locked in an uneasy stalemate for weeks as a ceasefire remains active but both sides struggle for control of the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Typically, about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz, but shipping traffic has ground to a near halt since the war began on February 28.
Trump has repeatedly threatened further military action against Iran, only to delay his set deadline. The war, which has lasted far longer than the Trump administration’s initial four- to six-week timeframe, is viewed negatively by most Americans, according to recent polls.
— CNBC’s Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report.