In a warning that underscores the region’s mounting volatility, Iran has cautioned its Gulf neighbours that any involvement in a potential U.S. military strike—whether direct or indirect will be considered an act of hostility and met with severe consequences.
The message, delivered amid a deepening standoff between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program, was reported by Reuters citing a senior Iranian official.
According to the report by Reuters, the Iranian government has issued formal warnings to Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, and Bahrain, stating that the use of their airspace or territory by American forces for any potential strike on Iran would provoke retaliation.
“Such an act will have severe consequences for them,” the senior Iranian official told Reuters, adding that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had placed the country’s armed forces on high alert.
The escalation follows demands by U.S. President Donald Trump for direct nuclear talks with Iran or face the possibility of military action.
While Iran has rejected direct talks, the official told Reuters that Tehran is open to continuing indirect negotiations through Oman, a traditional backchannel between the two adversaries.
“Indirect talks offer a chance to evaluate Washington’s seriousness about a political solution with Iran,” the official said, while acknowledging that the process could be “rocky.”
Trump’s stark warnings has intensified fears of a broader regional conflagration, especially in the aftermath of active warfare in Gaza and Lebanon, cross-border strikes in Yemen, Israel-Iran exchanges of fire, and the recent political upheaval in Syria.
The Persian Gulf a narrow but strategic waterway through which a large percentage of global oil flows is increasingly being viewed as a flashpoint in this unfolding confrontation.
On Wednesday, Iranian state media reported that Kuwait had sought to ease tensions by assuring Iran it would not permit any aggression to be launched from its territory. Officials from other Gulf states have remained silent.
Governments in Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment, while Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said it had not received any such warnings but acknowledged that communications could have occurred through other channels.
Meanwhile, Iran’s longtime ally Russia has publicly criticized the U.S. posture, with officials in Moscow condemning Washington’s threats as “unacceptable.” On Friday, Russia called for de-escalation and restraint, even as Iran reportedly looks to solidify Russian backing.
According to a second Iranian official quoted by Reuters, Tehran is unsure of the depth of Moscow’s commitment, which may ultimately depend on the dynamics between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The situation places Washington’s regional allies in a delicate bind. As host to major U.S. military installations, countries like Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE are caught between their security arrangements with Washington and the growing threat of Iranian retaliation.
Analysts warn that any misstep could trigger a broader conflict with devastating consequences for regional stability, energy markets, and international diplomacy.
With the specter of military confrontation looming and diplomatic channels narrowing, the Gulf is bracing for a turbulent chapter in the long and troubled relationship between Iran and the United States.
Tehran’s warnings are a clear signal that the consequences of any attack would ripple far beyond its borders—deep into the very heart of America’s alliance network in the Middle East.
