A top Iranian official stated that any attack will be seen as ‘total war against us.’

A top Iranian official stated on Friday that Iran will regard any attack “as an all-out war against us,” in anticipation of the imminent deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group and additional military assets in the Middle East.

“We hope this military buildup is not intended for actual confrontation; however, our military is prepared for the worst-case scenario.” A top Iranian official, speaking anonymously, stated, “This is the reason for the heightened alert in Iran.”

“We will regard any form of attack—be it limited, unlimited, surgical, kinetic, or otherwise—as a declaration of all-out war against us, and we will retaliate with the utmost severity to resolve this,” stated the official.

On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that a “armada” was en route to Iran, expressing a desire to avoid its deployment but reiterating warnings to Tehran regarding the killing of protestors and the resumption of its nuclear program.

“We will respond if the Americans infringe upon Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” stated the Iranian official. He refrained from detailing the potential nature of an Iranian response.

The official stated, “A nation facing perpetual military threats from the United States must utilize all available resources to defend itself and, if feasible, restore equilibrium against any aggressor targeting Iran.”

The U.S. military has historically sent additional forces to the Middle East during periods of escalated tensions, actions that were frequently defensive in nature. Nonetheless, the U.S. military executed a significant increase last year in anticipation of its June strikes on Iran’s nuclear program.