Iran says US warships have moved more than 500 kilometers from Gulf coast

• Iran’s army spokesperson says US warships have moved more than 500 kilometers from the Gulf coast, warning Tehran will push them farther away if tensions escalate.
• Tehran says its air defense capabilities have improved since February, citing new equipment, reported interceptions of US drones and joint military exercises.

Iran’s army spokesperson said US warships had moved more than 500 kilometers away from the Gulf coast, warning that Tehran would force them to retreat farther if tensions escalate.

Brigadier General Mohammad Akrami-Nia also urged ship owners to follow routes designated by Iran to avoid damage while navigating the Strait of Hormuz, amid ongoing regional tensions.

Speaking to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Akrami-Nia also said Tehran’s air defense capabilities were now “higher” than they were in February, when the war began.

Akrami-Nia said Iran had introduced new equipment into its combat units and implemented additional operational plans to strengthen its air defense capabilities.

“We have introduced new equipment into our combat units,” he said.

“In recent weeks, we have shot down several American drones. New operational and equipment plans have also been developed and implemented by our air defense force.”

The spokesperson did not specify the number or types of US drones allegedly shot down, provide details about the new equipment, or identify where the reported interceptions took place.

He also did not provide further details to substantiate the claim that US warships had moved more than 500 kilometers away from the Gulf coast.

Akrami-Nia said the Iranian army had conducted joint exercises with the air force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in recent months to improve coordination between the forces.

The exercises were intended to strengthen cooperation between different branches of Iran’s armed forces and improve their ability to operate together during potential confrontations.

His remarks come amid continued regional tensions and heightened attention to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a significant share of global oil supplies passes.

Iran’s warning to ship owners to follow routes designated by Tehran underscores the strategic importance of the strait, where any escalation could disrupt commercial shipping and energy flows.

The spokesperson did not disclose further details about the designated maritime routes or the circumstances under which Iran would seek to force US warships farther from the Gulf coast.