An Iranian senior military leader has warned that U.S. bases in the Middle East could be targeted if Iranian oil tankers are attacked. This marks a significant escalation in the ongoing war of threats between Tehran and Washington.
Brigadier General Ali Abdullahi, commander of Iran's "Khatam al-Anbiya" headquarters, stated that Iran's armed forces would retaliate against any assaults on their oil tankers by hitting U.S. military bases in the region.
Abdullahi accused the U.S. military of issuing warnings to Iranian oil tankers, suggesting preparations for attacks.
He added that any attack on Iranian tankers "will result in Iranian armed forces targeting American bases in the region."
This Iranian warning comes in response to threats issued by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding Iranian oil tankers.
Hegseth had cautioned Tehran against targeting American ships, indicating that the U.S. would destroy Iranian oil tankers if Iran fired on U.S. naval vessels.
The mutual threats highlight an expanded range of potential targets if a new confrontation were to occur, with the U.S. linking the safety of Iranian oil tankers to the safety of its ships, while Iran threatens to strike U.S. bases if its oil fleet is attacked.
The United States and Iran are exchanging threats to target military and commercial assets in the region, especially around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global energy supplies.
This escalation comes amid stalled negotiations between Washington and Tehran regarding Iran's nuclear program, economic sanctions, and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, heightening fears of a broader military confrontation in the region.