By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
A senior Iranian military adviser has warned that Iran could expand the battlefield to the Indian Ocean if the United States or Israel launches another attack.
Yahya Rahim Safavi said the conflict has already spread from the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz toward the Red Sea, and that further escalation could push fighting into the Indian Ocean.
The warning carries strategic significance because the Indian Ocean hosts key military installations, including the US-British base at Diego Garcia.
Safavi’s remarks came as Iranian and US representatives continued indirect talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, aimed at preventing further escalation.
Iran maintains that sanctions relief and the unfreezing of its assets are essential to ending the conflict and restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
