Iran has warned that valuable American assets in the United Arab Emirates and near the Strait of Hormuz could become targets in the event of another military confrontation with the United States, including critical infrastructure associated with data centres, telecommunications and artificial intelligence.
Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, issued the warning on Sunday during an interview with Press TV, Iran’s state-run English-language broadcaster.
Rezaei said Washington maintains highly valuable strategic assets in the UAE and the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz that Tehran has not yet included on its list of potential targets.
“The United States has very valuable assets in the UAE and near the Strait of Hormuz that we have not yet included among our targets,” he said.
He warned that another attack against Iran could expose major technological and communications infrastructure across the region to destruction.
“But if an attack takes place, a large part of the cables, data centres and artificial intelligence facilities in the region will be destroyed. The value of these assets in the region exceeds $2 trillion,” Rezaei stated.
Iran Accuses US Central Command of Oil Smuggling Through Strait of Hormuz
During the interview, Rezaei also accused Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), of overseeing oil-smuggling operations through the Strait of Hormuz with the involvement of the Emirati military.
Rezaei alleged that Cooper was personally directing these operations using UAE military forces.
“He is managing oil-smuggling operations in the Strait of Hormuz using the Emirati military,” Rezaei claimed.
The Iranian official further alleged that small vessels were being used to transport oil to larger tankers operating in the waterway.
“They use five or six small boats to transfer oil to large tankers, and we target five or six of them every night,” he said.
Neither the United States nor the UAE issued an immediate response to the Iranian official’s accusations.
Tehran Rejects Trump’s Claims Over Control of the Strait of Hormuz
Rezaei also challenged statements by US President Donald Trump suggesting that the Strait of Hormuz remained open.
The Iranian official maintained that Tehran continued to exercise control over the strategic waterway, rejecting the implication that Washington had secured control of maritime activity in the area.
“You are engaged in smuggling, but control of the Strait of Hormuz is in Iran’s hands,” Rezaei declared.
His remarks reflected Tehran’s position that it retains authority over the waterway despite the continued presence and activities of American forces in the region.
Renewed Tensions Follow US-Israeli War Against Iran
The warnings come against the backdrop of the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on 28 February.
According to Tehran, the military campaign resulted in thousands of deaths.
Iran responded by launching attacks against Israeli locations and facilities in Arab countries that it identified as American military installations.
Although Tehran and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding in June, intermittent confrontations between the two countries subsequently resumed.
Diplomatic negotiations have also remained deadlocked because of disagreements over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important passage for global energy supplies and commercial goods.
The latest Iranian warnings place American assets in the UAE and the surrounding maritime region at the centre of Tehran’s stated retaliation options should another military confrontation occur.
