TEHRAN: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards unveil new missile systems on three strategic Gulf islands, asserting their capability to target “enemy bases, vessels, and assets,” according to state media reports on Saturday.
The weapons are deployed on Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, located near the Strait of Hormuz—a crucial global shipping route. The move follows recent military drills in the region conducted by the Guards.
Naval commander Alireza Tangsiri of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps states that Iran must arm the islands and make them fully operational. “We are capable of attacking enemy bases, vessels, and assets in the region,” he told state television, adding that the new missile systems can completely destroy targets within a 600-kilometre (370-mile) range.
This development comes as Iran prepares to respond to a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump, urging the resumption of nuclear talks while also warning of possible military action if Tehran refuses.
On Friday, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dismissed U.S. threats, warning that any hostile actions against Iran would be met with a “hard slap.” Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Trump’s letter as a mix of threats and opportunities, noting that Tehran would issue a response in the coming days.
The three Gulf islands have been under Iranian control since 1971, despite a long-standing territorial dispute with the United Arab Emirates. In September, Tangsiri stated that Iran was expanding its defensive capabilities on the islands.