Iran’s military has warned that facilities in the Red Sea used by the United States Navy could be considered “potential targets,” marking Tehran’s first clear threat against the American military presence in the strategic maritime route.
According to remarks reported by CNN, Iran’s joint military command said the presence of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford in the Red Sea is viewed as a threat to Iran.
“Therefore, the logistical and service centers that support the mentioned naval group in the Red Sea will be considered potential targets by Iran’s armed forces,” the statement said.
The Red Sea hosts several major Saudi ports involved in oil exports and commercial shipping. Saudi Arabia has recently increased oil exports from terminals such as Yanbu and other facilities along the Red Sea coast, amid a near-complete disruption of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, reports also claim that the Israeli Air Force recently struck and destroyed an aircraft belonging to Iran’s former supreme leader Ali Khamenei at Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran.
Israeli military officials described the destruction of the “strategic asset” as a blow to Iran’s coordination capabilities, military buildup, and the regime’s ability to recover operational capacity.
