Major General Ali Abdollahi, Chief of General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces.
Iran warns Gulf nations against assisting US military
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Tehran threatens states facilitating American operations.
- Iranian chief cites Gulf refueling aircraft.
- Warning follows US carrier redeployment to region.
Iran issued a stern warning to Gulf states on Wednesday against providing any assistance to the U.S. military that could support Washington's military operations against the Islamic Republic.
Iran’s Mehr News Agency quoted Major General Ali Abdollahi, Chief of General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, emphasizing that any regional support would be viewed as direct military involvement alongside American forces.
"Any assistance or facilitation provided to the aggressor US military is considered participation with American military forces" in their operations, Major General Abdollahi stated.
The regional war erupted on February 28 following joint 'Israeli'-American bombardment on Iran. In response, Tehran launched retaliatory attacks targeting US-allied Gulf nations.
Major General Abdollahi specifically challenged assertions by Gulf governments that they are unaware of how U.S. military assets operate from bases within their territories:
"The presence of such a large number of military aircraft, particularly refueling tankers, at regional bases without the knowledge of the host countries seems highly unlikely," Abdollahi noted.
The warning comes as Washington redeploys the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the Middle East to take over operations from the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Addressing official neutrality pledges issued by neighboring countries, Abdollahi emphasized that Iranian intelligence is monitoring regional activities closely:
"The countries on the southern shore of the Persian Gulf, which issue various statements declaring they will not allow America to use their territory against Iran, must know that nothing is hidden from us."
