Iran has warned Arab countries hosting US military forces to expel them or risk becoming targets for Iranian military strikes, as tensions between Tehran and Washington intensify across the Middle East.
A senior official of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued the warning amid a fresh escalation in the conflict, with Iranian forces and the United States exchanging attacks across the region.
According to reports, Tehran has made clear that countries allowing US forces to operate from their territory could face military action if American bases are used in attacks against Iran.
The warning comes as the latest US strikes on Iranian military infrastructure have triggered retaliatory attacks by Iran against American positions in parts of the Middle East.
Iran has previously warned Gulf states that any US military action against its territory could prompt retaliation against strategic targets and critical infrastructure in the region.
The latest threat raises fears that the conflict could spread beyond Iran and the United States, potentially drawing several Arab states directly into the confrontation.
US forces maintain military installations and strategic facilities in several countries across the Gulf and wider Middle East, including Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Jordan.
Iran has repeatedly argued that the presence of American forces in the region represents a threat to its security and has called for their withdrawal.
The escalation also comes amid growing pressure around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes. Recent military exchanges have already disrupted shipping and contributed to a rise in oil prices, raising concerns about the wider economic consequences of a prolonged conflict.
Arab governments hosting US forces now face a difficult balancing act as they seek to maintain their security partnerships with Washington while avoiding becoming direct targets in the expanding confrontation.
With diplomatic efforts struggling to contain the crisis, the latest Iranian warning has heightened fears of a wider regional war involving US forces, Iran and its Arab neighbours.
