TEHRAN: Iran’s revolutionary guards have deployed new missile systems on three strategic islands near the Hormuz Strait, an important global shipping route and say they can target the enemy’s bases and vessels as tensions with the United States continue to rise, according to state media.
Weapons were deployed at Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa near the Hormuz Strait, a global vital shipping track.
The guards recently held military maneuvers in the area.
Saturday’s message comes as Iran is preparing to respond to a letter from US President Donald Trump calling for a resumption of nuclear conversations and warning of possible military action if Iran refuses.
“We have a tactic that we have to move the” island group “and do it operative,” said Alireza Tangsiri, naval manager of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the ideological branch of Iran’s military.
“We are able to attack the enemy bases, vessels and assets in the region,” he told the state of TV.
The new systems “can completely destroy any measure within 600 kilometers (370 miles)”.
On Friday, chief leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said American threats to Iran “will get them nowhere” and warn that “if they do something malignant to the Iranian nation, they will get a tough clap”.
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Trump’s letter described as “more of a threat,” but said it seemed to offer opportunities and noted that Tehran would answer “in the coming days”.
In comments sent on Friday, the US Middle East -posting Steve Witkoff said that Trump was trying to get rid of armed conflict with Iran by building confidence with Tehran.
He said the president’s letter was not intended for a threat.
Iran has been controlling the three golf islands since 1971, despite their sovereignty being disputed with the United Arab Emirates for decades.
In September, Tangsiri said Iran was “expanding” its defense in the islands.
