Iran’s military has warned countries along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf that allowing the US to use their territory or military bases against Tehran would be treated as direct participation in the war.
Ali Abdolahi, chief of staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, said Tehran was closely monitoring US military activity across the region, including the presence of a large number of aircraft and aerial refuelling tankers at regional bases.
“The countries of the southern Persian Gulf coast, which through various statements declare that they will not allow the United States to use their territories against Iran, must know that nothing escapes our watchful eyes,” Abdolahi said in a post on X.
He questioned whether the increased US military presence could have taken place without the knowledge of the countries hosting the bases.
“We warn: any assistance and facilitation to the invading US army is tantamount to participation with US military forces,” Abdolahi added.
The warning comes amid conflicting claims from Washington and Tehran over attempts to revive negotiations after a 60-day memorandum of understanding failed to produce a broader agreement.
US President Donald Trump said that no talks were taking place with Iran and that none had been scheduled. His remarks contradicted earlier indications from his envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner that contacts with Tehran were continuing.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, claimed that Washington was now “begging” for negotiations after failing to force Tehran into surrender. He said the US had moved from demanding Iran’s unconditional surrender to seeking talks.
The competing statements have added to uncertainty over the prospects for diplomacy as tensions rise around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran says the crucial waterway remains closed and has demanded that Washington lift its naval blockade, ease oil sanctions, release frozen Iranian assets and halt military threats.
Trump has insisted that the strait is open and safe, although commercial traffic remains severely restricted. Only six commodity vessels passed through the waterway on Tuesday, compared with a recent daily average of 11, according to Kpler data cited by Reuters.
The Strait of Hormuz previously handled about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.