Tehran: The Iranian army issued a stark warning on Thursday, threatening to extend the conflict with the United States beyond the Middle East and potentially disrupt global oil and gas exports if Washington continues any military action against the nation. This announcement came shortly before U.S. President Donald Trump declared the cancellation of planned military strikes on Tehran.

According to Anadolu Agency, Major General Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, emphasized that any further U.S. aggression would be met with a more formidable response from Iran. He warned that the potential conflict could escalate globally, stating, "The flames of war will spread not only across the region, but throughout the world."

The general's comments were in response to Trump's threat to seize control of Iran's main oil export facility at Kharg Island in the Gulf. Abdollahi remarked, "Either oil and gas exports will be available to everyone or impossible for everyone."

Trump later revealed on his Truth Social platform that he had decided to cancel the scheduled strikes on Iran. He explained that the decision was made after discussions with Iranian leadership reached the highest levels and received approval. "I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening," Trump stated.

The situation escalated after U.S. forces conducted a second day of strikes against multiple targets in Iran on Thursday, a response to the downing of an Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for striking 18 major U.S. military targets located at air bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.

The intensifying conflict has significantly raised regional tensions, especially following Iran's decision to close the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments.