Iran’s top military commander has warned Persian Gulf states that any assistance provided to U.S. forces operating from regional bases would be regarded as participation in military action against Iran, as Tehran steps up warnings over the use of regional military facilities amid heightened tensions.
Tehran-IranView24
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Ali Abdollahi said in a message on Wednesday that Iran was closely monitoring military activity at U.S. and allied bases across the region and would not overlook any support or facilitation provided to American forces.
“Countries on the southern shores of the Persian Gulf that declare, through various statements, that they do not allow the United States to use their territories against Iran should know that nothing escapes our notice,” Abdollahi said.
He questioned whether the deployment of large numbers of U.S. military aircraft, particularly aerial refueling tankers, to regional bases could take place without the knowledge of the host countries.
“The presence of this number of military aircraft, particularly aerial refueling aircraft, at regional bases without the knowledge of the host countries seems unlikely,” he said.
Abdollahi warned that any assistance or facilitation provided to the U.S. military would carry consequences for the countries involved.
“We warn that any assistance and facilitation provided to the aggressive U.S. military is tantamount to participation with the U.S. military forces,” he said.
Iran has repeatedly maintained that military facilities in the region used by the United States to conduct operations against Iran could be considered legitimate targets for retaliation. Iranian forces have previously reported attacks on U.S. military positions in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan during the ongoing regional conflict.
Abdollahi has issued similar warnings in recent weeks, urging regional countries to reconsider their military cooperation with Washington. On August 1, he warned that countries acting as a “defensive shield” for the United States would face the consequences of the regional conflict.
The latest warning comes after Iran’s Supreme Leader appointed Abdollahi as chief of staff of the Armed Forces earlier this month. He previously headed the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran’s top joint military command responsible for coordinating the country’s armed forces.
With U.S. military assets continuing to operate from bases across the Persian Gulf and wider region, Tehran has increasingly warned neighboring states against allowing their territory, airspace or military infrastructure to facilitate operations against Iran.
