Iran showcased its underground missile bases near the Persian Gulf on Saturday, warning of a harsh response to any US attack, as Washington boosted its naval presence in the region despite Arab calls for restraint.
Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, warned on Saturday that "if the enemy commits a foolish act," they will witness how Iranian forces will send them to the depths of hell.
On the sidelines of a visit to Iran's naval forces and underground missile bases in the Persian Gulf region, Tangsiri said the IRGC's combat and offensive units in the Strait of Hormuz never take their eyes off the enemy and maintain the highest level of spiritual and combat readiness.
"If a battle breaks out, rest assured the enemy will be struck from a place they never anticipated."
The US has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen—Iran’s regional allies—since last week. Washington has also warned Tehran to halt its military support for the group, which has been targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea since November 2023.
In a rare move on Thursday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered two aircraft carriers, USS Harry Truman and USS Carl Vinson, to be present in the Middle East next month as tensions rise between Tehran and Washington.
Hegseth ordered the USS Carl Vinson, which has been operating in the Pacific, to start steaming toward the Middle East, and also extended the presence of USS Harry Truman for at least an additional month.
USS Harry Truman has been conducting operations in the Red Sea against Tehran-backed Houthis and was scheduled to begin heading home to Virginia at the end of March.
Regional calls for restraint
On Saturday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart "stressed the need for self-restraint during this critical stage that the region is going through, and not to take steps or make moves that would contribute to fueling the crisis situation in the region," according to Cairo's foreign ministry.
He emphasized the importance of restoring calm and preventing the region from falling into a cycle of violence and escalation. Abdelatty also highlighted the need to protect freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, noting the significant losses to Egypt’s economy due to declining Suez Canal revenues and ongoing regional instability.
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan also emphasized the necessity of coordination and close interaction among regional countries to prevent the escalation of the crisis, according to Tehran's readout of his call with Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi.
On Friday, the Emirati foreign minister called the current situation deeply concerning and emphasized the need for continued consultations among regional countries to prevent further escalation.
Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei on Friday shrugged off warnings of a potential military confrontation with the United States if a nuclear deal was not reached, asserting that any aggression against Tehran will be met with a 'harsh slap'.
The remarks came after US President Donald Trump sent Khamenei a direct letter earlier this month offering negotiations under a limited timeframe. According to Axios, the message included a two-month window to reach a new nuclear agreement, paired with a warning of consequences should Iran further expand its nuclear program.
