Official threatens American bases if US goes to war with Iran

Qatar-based channel Al Jazeera has quoted advisor to the Iranian Supreme Leader and former Minister of Defence Hossein Dehghan as saying that all American military bases in the region will be targeted by Tehran, if the US decides to go to war with Iran. Dehghan further reportedly noted that Iran is not going to negotiate its missile programme with anyone, including US President Donald Trump.

The adviser also reportedly blasted the UAE for allegedly becoming a “US centre to strike Iran’s national security”, but added that the country has already sent a delegation to Iran to discuss “peace”.

Al Jazeera also quoted the adviser as cautioning other countries against changing the status of the Strait of Hormuz, saying that it would open up the path to dangerous confrontations. He namely brought up the UK’s initiative to form a European “maritime protection mission” as an example of a move that could lead to “unpredictable consequences”.

Dehghan reportedly argued that all countries must have the ability to safely sail and export oil through the Strait of Hormuz, which of late has become a flashpoint of tensions between Iran on the one side and the UK and US on the other.