Iran warns US bases, ships amid escalating Middle East tensions
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Iran has warned that United States vessels and bases in the Middle East could come under attack if Iranian oil tankers are targeted, according to Iranian media reports. The warning came a day after US forces reportedly struck two Iranian tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The Iranian Guards said any assault on Iranian commercial or oil vessels would trigger a “powerful strike” against US facilities in the region as well as enemy ships. Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s Foreign Policy and National Security Committee, declared that Tehran’s patience had ended. In a post on X, Rezaei said any hostile action against Iranian vessels would be answered with a “strong and decisive” response against American ships and military bases. He also warned that time was running out for US interests in the region, urging Washington not to escalate tensions further. Rezaei added that the United States should accept the emerging regional balance rather than deepen its involvement in the crisis. His remarks followed comments by Iranian military spokesperson Akrami Nia, who cautioned that countries helping enforce US sanctions on Iran would face obstacles navigating through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems intercepted two drones launched from Iran, adding that no casualties were reported. In a statement, the UAE Defence Ministry said its forces had intercepted hundreds of aerial threats since the beginning of what it described as Iranian attacks, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. On Friday, a US fighter aircraft reportedly struck and disabled two Iranian-flagged tankers after Washington accused them of violating its blockade around Iranian ports. Iranian military officials later claimed the navy retaliated with counterstrikes. The latest developments came after another confrontation near the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic global shipping route that Iran has sought to leverage