Tehran issues warning to regional neighbour if Iranian island occupied

A senior official in Tehran has warned that intelligence reports suggest that “Iran’s enemies” ⁠are planning to occupy an Iranian island with support ‌from an unnamed country in the region.

⁠Iran’s ⁠parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said on Wednesday that any such attempt would be met with targeted attacks on the “vital infrastructure” of the regional country – which he did not name – that assists in the operation.
“Iranian forces are monitoring ⁠enemy movements, and ⁠if they take any step, we will ⁠attack vital ⁠infrastructure in ⁠that regional country in continuous and relentless attacks,” ‌Ghalibaf said in two separate posts on social media.

Ghalibaf’s warning comes as United States President Donald Trump continued to claim that the US was in negotiations with Iran to end the war – which Tehran has denied – while the White House also conveyed new threats against the Iranian leadership.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that Iran must accept defeat.

“If Iran fails to accept the reality of the current moment, if they fail to understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure they are hit harder than they have ever been hit before,” Leavitt said.

“President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell,” Leavitt said.

Washington’s claims of peace talks while also threatening ever more punishing war against Iran come as the Pentagon sends thousands of airborne troops to the Gulf region, adding to two contingents of US Marines already on their way.
US media reports that approximately 2,000 soldiers from the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division had been ordered to deploy to the region, while the first of two Marine Expeditionary Units – on board a huge ⁠amphibious assault ship – could arrive in the region in the next few days, according to reports.