ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Ali Shamkhani, a top advisor to Iran’s supreme leader, warned on Wednesday that any military action against Tehran would be considered the “start of a war,” as senior Iranian officials reaffirmed the country’s commitment to advancing what it claims are peaceful nuclear initiatives.

“Any military action by the US, from any source and at any level, will be considered the start of war,” Shamkhani, who was targeted by an Israeli missile during the June war, said in a post on X on Wednesday. 

He added the response to the attack “will be immediate, comprehensive, and unprecedented, targeting the aggressor, the heart of Tel Aviv, and all of the aggressor's supporters.”

“A limited strike is an illusion,” Shamkhani said. 

The comments came as US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that a massive US naval armada is heading toward Iran, saying the fleet is moving fast with “great power, enthusiasm, and purpose,” while calling on Iran to sit down at the negotiating table and work out what he called a fair deal that would keep nuclear weapons off the table and benefit everyone involved.

Mohammad Eslami, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO), on Wednesday once again reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to advancing its nuclear program.

“All these developed countries, especially the United States, have put nuclear development at the top of their programs” and prioritize the advancement of these technologies, Eslami said, adding that if they do, “the Iranian people also have the right to prioritize these technologies,” he told reporters on Wednesday.

Tehran “will not allow any obstacles in the advancement of our programs,” he said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, responding to Trump’s comments, reaffirmed the armed forces’ readiness to respond to any attack while noting Iran’s readiness for negotiations on a “mutually beneficial, fair, and equitable NUCLEAR DEAL” free from threats.

He added it should “ensure Iran's rights to PEACEFUL nuclear technology, and guarantees NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS,” in a post on X on Wednesday.

While Iran remains under heavy international sanctions and pressure over its nuclear program, it has repeatedly said that its ballistic missile program is “not subject to negotiation,” insisting on its right to defend the country, as well as its right to pursue the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The US Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, and its accompanying strike group have been redirected from the South China Sea to the Middle East in recent weeks.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran reached their peak when Trump canceled talks with Iranian officials and told protestors in Iran that “help is on its way,” with him later saying the killings had stopped. Iran, however, has denied allegations of stopping executions. 

Iran’s top security bodies have warned of strong retaliation if the US or Israel carries out renewed strikes on Tehran, saying any attack on Khamenei would be considered a “war against Islam.”

While the US has expressed hope for Iran’s cooperation in reaching an agreement, Tehran has renewed threats against Washington and Tel Aviv, labeling recent protests as a continuation of June’s 12-day war between Iran and Israel.

Iran has been rocked by nationwide protests since late last year, which have spread to the majority of provinces and increasingly targeted the government. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has reported that Iranian security forces have killed more than 6,100 protesters.