The Middle East is witnessing an accelerated military and political escalation amid growing United States military deployments and Iranian warnings that the situation could slide towards a wide regional confrontation.
According to the Wall Street Journal, citing a US Navy official, the United States currently has eight war destroyers positioned within the range of Iranian missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. These include two destroyers near the Strait of Hormuz, three in the northern Arabian Sea, one near Israel in the Red Sea, and two in the eastern Mediterranean.
In the same context, the newspaper reported, citing defence officials and official statements, that the US military already operates air defence systems across the region. However, the Pentagon has decided to deploy an additional THAAD battery alongside Patriot systems to reinforce the protection of bases hosting US forces in several Middle Eastern countries, including Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
Deadly Attacks
On the other side, the Washington Post reported, citing informed sources, that Iran has conveyed messages to US allies in the region affirming that it remains capable of carrying out deadly attacks in the Gulf. Tehran warned that any potential strikes this time may not be calculated or announced in advance, as was the case during the targeting of Al Udeid Air Base.
According to the paper, an assessment by a Gulf ally of Washington indicates that Iran still retains its short range munitions and launch platforms, as well as elements of its missile production infrastructure. These capabilities are sufficient to reach US interests in the Gulf, including more than twelve military bases and tens of thousands of soldiers.
The newspaper also quoted a former Iranian diplomat as saying that Tehran has doubled missile production since what has become known as the twelve day war, achieving notable progress in repairing damaged launch platforms. In addition, some missile launchers have reportedly been relocated to mountainous areas that are difficult to target.
A European official was also cited as stating that Iran’s leadership has fully unified following the violent suppression of internal protests, and that divisions within decision making centres have been overcome in the face of what Tehran perceives as American threats. According to the official, messages coming from sources inside Iran have become clear: the country is ready for a comprehensive war.
Regional War Warning
Within this framework, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, warned that any war initiated by the United States against Iran would turn into a regional war. He stressed that the Iranian people are not afraid of threats or displays of force.
Speaking before a large crowd at Imam Khomeini Hussainiya in Tehran, Khamenei said that repeated American talk about war, aircraft, and ships is nothing new. He noted that Washington has long insisted that all options are on the table, including the option of war.
He added that Iran would not initiate any attack and would not aggress against any country, but would deliver a strong strike against any party that attempts to harm it.
For his part, Ahmad Vahidi, Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that the readiness of Iran’s armed forces is now higher than it was before the twelve day war. He said that Tehran is closely monitoring the movements of its adversaries.
Vahidi described the heavy presence of foreign fleets in the region as part of psychological warfare, adding that it is unlikely that enemies would commit a new act of folly by testing approaches that have previously failed.
At the same time, he emphasised that the country’s internal affairs should not be influenced by propaganda or psychological pressure, calling for continued work with strength and efficiency across all sectors.
