By Our Correspondent
National News – Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has declared that Gulf nations will no longer serve as protective shields for American military bases in the Middle East.
The warning was issued on Tuesday in a written Eid al-Adha message broadcast by Iranian state television, amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States following months of conflict across the region.
Khamenei, who assumed office in March after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, said regional governments must rethink their alliances as Iran continues negotiations aimed at ending the war that began on February 28.
According to him, the United States is gradually losing influence and safe operational grounds in the Middle East.
The Iranian leader stressed that “the hands of time will not turn backwards,” adding that countries in the Gulf region would no longer provide strategic protection for American military installations.
His statement comes as diplomatic discussions continue between Tehran and Washington over a possible peace agreement following weeks of missile attacks, airstrikes and military confrontations.
A fragile ceasefire has remained in place since April 8, although tensions persist.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry recently disclosed that both nations had reached agreements on several important issues but admitted that a final peace deal had not yet been achieved.
On Tuesday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed they shot down a US drone and fired at additional aircraft allegedly attempting to enter Iranian airspace.
The Guards also warned that any violation of the ceasefire by the US military would trigger a strong retaliatory response from Tehran.
Meanwhile, the US Central Command stated on Monday that American forces attacked missile facilities in southern Iran and targeted boats suspected of laying naval mines despite the ceasefire agreement.
Iranian authorities have yet to officially confirm the strikes, though local media reported explosions in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.
