Middle East Braces for Escalation as Iran Warns of Possible US Strikes

September 21, 2026 | 08:52 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Governments across the Middle East are preparing for a possible escalation after Iranian officials claimed they had received intelligence that the United States was considering renewed military action against Iran.

The warning came as tensions intensified following attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement on Saudi Arabia and ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week.

US President Donald Trump said he was considering several options regarding Iran, including further military action, economic pressure or a negotiated settlement. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said "very big things" could happen in the near future, as reported by The Guardian.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any new US attack would trigger retaliation against American bases and interests in the region. Iranian officials also said potential reprisals could extend to US naval forces in the Indian Ocean.

The developments followed a series of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. On Saturday, the group launched missiles toward Riyadh, including an attack that Saudi authorities said had been intercepted. Smoke was reported near an Aramco facility in the capital. The port of Yanbu, a major hub for Saudi oil exports, was also targeted.

The United States considers the Houthis an Iranian-backed group and has linked their attacks to Tehran, while Iran denies directing the group's operations.

Rising Tensions in Yemen

The Houthi attacks followed the group's recent advances along Yemen's western coast, including the capture of strategic ports overlooking the Red Sea. The developments have raised concerns over the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a major shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean.

Saudi Arabia has sought greater US support in response to the Houthi advance. Trump, however, has so far indicated that Washington does not intend to become directly involved in the fighting between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

Trump said the United States remained in communication with the Houthis and that the group had agreed not to attack US military forces.

The Houthis have said their attacks are a response to Saudi military operations in Yemen. A Houthi political official, Hizam al-Assad, said the group was responding to what he described as hundreds of Saudi airstrikes against Yemen.

The conflict has also affected regional energy and shipping concerns. The Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and Oman, remains heavily restricted for Western shipping, while European countries are monitoring the impact on energy supplies.

Iran Sets Conditions for Talks

Iranian officials have continued to signal that diplomacy remains possible while maintaining conditions for negotiations.

Iranian parliament speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Ghalibaf said Tehran was not seeking a permanent conflict with the United States. At the same time, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said Iran's conditions for peace remained in place, including demands related to US restrictions on Iranian oil exports, frozen assets and access to oil ports.

Trump has said he remains open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the UN General Assembly in New York. Iranian officials have generally rejected direct negotiations with Washington and have relied on intermediaries in previous diplomatic efforts.

Trump is also scheduled to meet leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council during the UN gathering. Discussions are expected to include Iran, Yemen, Gaza and the future of US security commitments in the region.

US Issues Security Alert

The US State Department issued a security alert for American citizens across the Middle East, warning that the regional security environment remained complex and could deteriorate unexpectedly.

The alert urged US citizens in the region to exercise heightened vigilance.

The warning came after Trump unexpectedly shortened a weekend stay at Camp David, although no official explanation was given for the change.

Meanwhile, tensions between Iran and France also increased after Iranian authorities closed a French-language cultural center affiliated with the French Embassy in Tehran. Iranian authorities accused the center of violating diplomatic rules, while France described the move as unacceptable and said it would summon Iran's ambassador.

The developments have added to uncertainty across the region as world leaders prepare to gather in New York for the UN General Assembly. The meetings are expected to place the escalating conflicts involving Iran, Yemen and Saudi Arabia high on the diplomatic agenda.

Read: Trump Warns of 'Major Developments' as He Weighs Next Move on Iran

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News

UN Lowers 2026 Int'l Tourism Growth Outlook over War, High Prices

2 hari lalu

European Gas Prices Hit Highest Level in More Than Three Years

10 hari lalu

Oil Prices Rise as Middle East Conflict Escalates

11 hari lalu

Somalia: Pirates Seize Commercial Cargo Ship

34 hari lalu

What Could Drive Gold Prices Higher Next Week?

42 hari lalu

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Sign Defense Pact: What to Know

44 hari lalu

Prabowo Warns Against Underestimating the Threat of Nuclear War

50 hari lalu

US-Iran Conflict Escalates: What to Know About the Latest Strikes

52 hari lalu

Prabowo Says Indonesia Must Brace for Escalating Middle East Conflict

52 hari lalu

Pope Leo XIV Reiterates Plea for Peace in the Middle East

54 hari lalu