A senior Iranian official declared unequivocally that "U.S. warships are not allowed to enter the Persian Gulf," further escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Mohsen Rezaei, former senior commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and currently a high-ranking official, stated on Sunday that no U.S. warship would be permitted to enter the Persian Gulf under any circumstances.
This declaration was published via a post on the Telegram channel of Fars News Agency, Iran's state news organization.
Previously, the U.S. Navy had deployed significant maritime forces in the region, which U.S. President Donald Trump described as a large battle fleet, ahead of airstrikes on Iran last Saturday.
Before the strikes, reports indicated some U.S. warships were stationed in the Persian Gulf, while others were in the Arabian Sea. However, the exact locations of the U.S. fleet on Sunday remain undisclosed.
U.S. Central Command released video footage from the beginning of the airstrike operation, showing U.S. warships firing Tomahawk missiles at targets in Iran, alongside images of fighter jets launching from an aircraft carrier.
Iran’s firm stance reflects the risk that the Persian Gulf—a key global oil transport route—could become a direct confrontation zone between Iran and the U.S., potentially affecting global energy stability and security.
:CNN
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