Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a stark warning on Wednesday, citing intelligence reports that "Iran's enemies" are planning to occupy an Iranian island with support from an unnamed regional country. In two separate social media posts, Ghalibaf stated that any such attempt would be met with targeted attacks on the "vital infrastructure" of the assisting country, emphasizing that Iranian forces are monitoring enemy movements and will respond with "continuous and relentless attacks" if provoked.
This warning comes amid claims by United States President Donald Trump that the US is supposedly engaged in negotiations with Iran to end the war—a claim Tehran has denied—while the White House regime simultaneously conveyed new threats against the Iranian leadership. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt asserted that Iran must accept defeat, warning that "if Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before," in a statement that underscores the contradictory stance of the US administration.
Concurrently, the Pentagon is deploying thousands of airborne troops to the Gulf region, supplementing two Marine Expeditionary Units already en route. Reports indicate approximately 2,000 soldiers from the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division have been ordered to deploy, with the first Marine unit potentially arriving within days, highlighting the escalating military buildup that contradicts Washington's purported peace overtures.
Al Jazeera correspondent Mohamed Vall, reporting from Tehran, noted that Iranians are acutely aware of the US troop and warship buildup in the region and "know what it is going to lead to." He added that some interpret Ghalibaf's threat as aimed at the United Arab Emirates, suggesting potential Emirati cooperation with the US in a possible operation against Kharg Island, with Iranians warning of destructive consequences for both the UAE and US troops if such an invasion occurs.
Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency cited an unnamed military source claiming that Iran could open a new front at the mouth of the Red Sea if military action takes place on "Iranian islands or anywhere else in our lands." The source stated Iran has the capability to pose a "credible threat" in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, with Tasnim later quoting an "informed source" alleging that Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are prepared to assist in controlling the strait to further punish the enemy, indicating a potential expansion of the conflict.
Despite Trump's recent assertions of progress in talks with Iran, Tehran has rejected any negotiations with the US, though regional mediators report ongoing behind-the-scenes efforts to relay messages. The US has allegedly proposed a 15-point plan to end hostilities, while Iranian media quoted an official saying Tehran has put forward its own five conditions, but these diplomatic gestures remain unverified and fraught with uncertainty, casting doubt on any imminent resolution.
Source: www.aljazeera.com