Iran’s army issued a stark warning on Sunday that the war would “expand further geographically” if the United States resumed airstrikes, a statement intentionally timed ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s scheduled White House meeting with President Donald Trump. Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia, the armed forces spokesman, told state television that continued air raids would trigger an enlarged conflict, adding that the Americans risked falling once more under “the Zionists’ deception.”

Viewed from Tehran, the US position in the Middle East has become “difficult and unsettled,” forcing Washington to search for a new strategy. Iranian state media claimed that the conflict has already spread to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, where Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen have clashed with Saudi Arabia. Akraminia said Iranian operational reach now covers the entire region, from US bases in Jordan to states along the Persian Gulf, and that Iran was ready for “every option and scenario likely to emerge.”

The warning follows a pause in US strikes: reports from Axios and CNN, citing Pentagon and other officials, indicate that President Trump personally ordered a halt to planned attacks, partly in hopes of a diplomatic resolution. The lull coincides with tensions between Washington and its Israeli ally. While the two governments launched a joint military campaign against Iran in February 2026 and initially hailed its success, disagreements over whether to sustain bombing or pursue a ceasefire have since surfaced. Trump recently told Axios that Netanyahu “knows who the boss is,” underlining strained ties.

The Netanyahu-Trump meeting on Tuesday is expected to determine the next phase of the conflict. The Israeli premier’s office said he would also attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch Israel backer. European and regional diplomatic circles observe that Iran’s combative rhetoric appears designed to influence the talks by warning of the costs of continued military pressure. With the US Central Command reporting no new strikes over the weekend and regional allies noting a temporary calm, the immediate focus shifts to whether the White House will move toward de-escalation or endorse a resumption of intensive operations.