New Delhi, Mar 14 (UNI) Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has called upon all regional countries to shut down US bases as soon as possible, saying Washington’s claims of ensuring security and peace to these countries have been nothing but lies.
‘’I advise the leaders of regional countries to shut down those [US] bases as soon as possible, for they must surely have realised by now that the US’s claims of ensuring security and peace have been nothing but lies,’’ Mojtaba Khamenei said on X.
(The US had negotiated a deal with Saudi Arabia on June 8, 1974, under which Saudi Arabia agreed to invest their vast surplus oil revenues into the US economy. In exchange, the US said Washington would provide military protection, weapons, and technical support to Saudi Arabia. With that intention, the US set up military bases in these countries.)
On March 7, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had apologised to these countries for Iran’s air and drone strikes on the US assets there.
Mojtaba said the Islamic Republic (Iran) is fully prepared for unity and fostering warm, sincere, reciprocal relations with all its neighbours.
He said shutting down US bases in the region will enable those governments to strengthen ties with their own people, who are generally dissatisfied with the humiliating behaviour associated with those bases. It will also bring an increase in their wealth and power. These regional countries must determine their position on the ‘’aggressors,’’ he added.
Mojtaba made it clear that Iran had clearly warned, and without committing any act of aggression against those regional countries themselves, only the US bases there had been targeted.
He warned that Iran would have no choice but to continue this course of action.
Without naming the countries, Mojtaba said Iran shares borders with 15 countries and has always wanted and still wants warm relations with them. However, for years, ‘the enemy’ has been establishing military and financial bases in some of these countries.
‘’To leaders in certain regional countries: We share borders with 15 countries & have always wanted, & still want warm relations with them. But for years, the enemy has been establishing military & financial bases in some of these countries to secure its dominance over the region,’’ Mojtaba said.
He warned that in any case, Iran would obtain compensation from the ‘’enemy.’’ If they refuse (to pay compensation), Iran will take it from their assets.
‘’If they refuse, we will take it from their assets to the extent we deem appropriate. If that wasn’t possible, we would destroy an equivalent amount of their assets,’’ Mojtaba said.
The United States maintains a significant military footprint across the Gulf region, with active bases or major military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. These installations serve as critical hubs for regional air and naval operations, logistics, and missile defence.
Qatar has the largest US military installation in the Middle East, which serves as the forward headquarters for the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and houses approximately 10,000 troops.
Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. It is a vital maritime command centre overseeing operations in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.
Kuwait has several key installations, including a forward headquarters for US Army Central and a primary airlift hub. Kuwait hosts one of the largest concentrations of US forces in the region, with approximately 13,500 personnel.
The UAE operates out of an airbase near Abu Dhabi, which supports advanced fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, and drones. Saudi Arabia maintains a presence at Prince Sultan Air Base, which is used for air defence (including Patriot and THAAD missile batteries) and supports U.S. military aircraft operations.
As of March 14 (today), Iran has launched hundreds of attacks against the US military bases in the Gulf after the airstrikes on Iran on February 28. Iranian drones and missiles have hit at least 17 U.S. military sites across West Asia in these two weeks. Key installations attacked by Iran include those in Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain.
Although the exact number of casualties or injuries cannot be ascertained, reports said eight US soldiers were killed, and about 140 were injured.
