Iranian Military Accuses US of Exacerbating Middle East Tensions

The Iranian military has accused the United States of worsening tensions in the Middle East and has warned regional nations against cooperating with Washington. This statement was delivered by the Head of Iran’s Central Military Command, Ali Abdollahi, on Saturday (1/8).

“The United States is moving rapidly towards the escalation of tensions in the region,” Abdollahi stated, as reported by AFP. He further warned regional countries against providing support to Washington, asserting that “any country that becomes a defensive shield for criminal and aggressive America will be consumed by the flames of war.”

These remarks follow renewed threats from US President Donald Trump to strike Iran “very hard.” US media reports suggest that Trump is considering a major new strike as early as this weekend, potentially targeting Iranian energy infrastructure.

Following a brief period of relative calm, Iran and the US have recently engaged in nocturnal exchanges of fire. However, no specific attacks were reported between Friday (3ly/7) and Saturday (1/8). The ongoing conflict in the Middle East erupted on 28 February after the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile and drone strikes across various parts of the region.

Abdollahi emphasised that the Iranian armed forces would firmly defend the rights of the Iranian people in the Strait of Hormuz. US intelligence reports have revealed that Iran is accelerating the production of drones and missiles during the ceasefire, sparking concerns over new regional threats. Iran has warned it will open new fronts if attacked again by Israel and the US, reaffirming its control over the Strait of Hormuz.

In a display of military capability, the Iranian government recently showcased the Arash long-range drone and various missiles during a national rally. Meanwhile, the Iranian military claimed to have launched drone attacks against several US military facilities at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait on Friday (31/7).