Iran's Supreme Leader Urges Avoidance of Direct Military Conflict with the U.S.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has instructed his military commanders to exhibit "strategic patience" and avoid direct military conflict with the United States, two sources familiar with Iran's internal situation have informed The New York Times.

Meanwhile, Iran has dispatched naval vessels to the Red Sea against the backdrop of escalating attacks from Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, while the U.S. has organized a multinational coalition in the region.

One senior Iranian official characterized the decision as a signal that "Iran is supporting the Houthis and raising the stakes," but asserted that Tehran has no plans for direct confrontation with the U.S. in the region.