Egypt Daily News – Iran has unveiled new missile systems on three strategic islands in the Gulf, stating that they are capable of targeting “enemy bases, ships, and assets” in the region, according to state media reports on Saturday.
The weapons were deployed on the islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime passage.
The Revolutionary Guard recently conducted military drills in the area.
The announcement on Saturday comes as Iran prepares to respond to a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he urged Tehran to resume nuclear negotiations and warned of possible military action if it refused.
The commander of the Revolutionary Guard’s naval forces, Alireza Tangsiri, stated, “We have a tactic of arming these islands.” He added in an interview with state television, “We are capable of attacking enemy bases, ships, and assets in the region.”
According to Tangsiri, the newly deployed systems can “completely destroy any target within a 600-kilometer range.”
This development follows a statement from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Friday, in which he declared, “The Americans will never achieve their goals by making threats” against Iran. He warned that if they “commit any malicious act against the Iranian nation, they will receive a harsh response.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday described Trump’s letter as “closer to a threat” while claiming that it offered “opportunities.” He stated that Tehran would respond to the letter “in the coming days.”
In remarks published Friday, U.S. envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said that Trump was seeking to avoid military conflict with Iran by building trust with Tehran.
Witkoff emphasized that the president’s letter was not intended as a threat.
Iran has controlled the three Gulf islands since 1971, though its sovereignty over them has been disputed by the United Arab Emirates for decades.
In September, Alireza Tangsiri stated that Iran was “expanding” its defensive capabilities on the islands.
