Iranian lawmaker warns world is ‘on brink of World War III’ amid US-Iran, Ukraine and Taiwan tensions

A Tehran lawmaker has warned that the world is "practically on the brink of World War III," linking the escalating US-Iran conflict to tensions over Ukraine and Taiwan. Kamran Ghazanfari made the remarks in an interview with Iran's official Labour News Agency (ILNA).

Ghazanfari, who represents Tehran in Iran's parliament, argued that NATO's support for Ukraine against Russia, together with Moscow's tensions with Britain and Germany, had increased the risk of the conflict spreading to other parts of Europe.

He also cited the US-China dispute over Taiwan as another potential flashpoint that could contribute to a broader conflict.

US strikes five Iranian tankers as oil rises above US$100

In the ILNA interview, Ghazanfari said the expansion of the Russia-Ukraine war and rising tensions among major powers had created the conditions for a wider conflict. He described the US-China dispute over Taiwan as "another area of widespread conflict in the world."

He did not give a timeframe for when such an escalation might occur. In the same interview, Ghazanfari said Iran could reconsider whether to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Iran signals possible NPT withdrawal

The NPT is a key international framework aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and supporting the peaceful use of nuclear technology. Ghazanfari also said the issue could potentially be returned to parliament's agenda.

He did not say when parliament might consider the matter, and Iran's government has not confirmed any formal move to withdraw from the treaty. His remarks came as the conflict involving Iran, the US and Israel entered its seventh month.

Fighting intensifies on multiple fronts

US Central Command said its forces destroyed five Iranian oil tankers on Sept. 8, four in the Gulf of Oman and one near Kharg Island.

The US said the strikes followed repeated attempts by Iranian forces to target a US Navy warship. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that further Iranian attempts to strike US vessels would carry a direct cost.

"Iran continues to try to hit US naval ships, and for every time they do that or try to do that, they're going to lose tankers," Rubio told reporters during a visit to Colombia. Iran's Revolutionary Guards separately said they had attacked what they described as a US base at Al Azraq in Jordan with ballistic missiles, in retaliation for the tanker strikes.

Jordanian authorities said the country's air defences intercepted missiles launched towards its territory, while other missiles landed in unpopulated areas, according to reports. The Iran-backed Houthi movement also struck several cities in Saudi Arabia this week, wounding at least 73 people and disrupting operations at energy facilities.

Oil prices surge as markets react to rising tensions

Brent crude rose above US$100 a barrel on Wednesday, reaching its highest level since July 24 as markets assessed the risk of further disruption in the region.

The increase came as the conflict continued to fuel concerns about possible disruption to energy supplies.

Ghazanfari's comments offer an indication of how some hardline figures in Iran view the conflict.

By linking the US-Iran war to Ukraine and Taiwan, he portrayed the fighting as part of a broader global power struggle rather than solely as a contained regional dispute.

His remarks could fuel debate in Iran over future policy, particularly the possibility of withdrawing from the NPT. However, they do not represent a formal decision by the Iranian government to leave the treaty.

Together with Rubio's warning of further tanker losses, the exchanges this week suggest that tensions remain high. The developments have also added renewed pressure to global oil markets.

Originally published on IBTimes UK