Tension in the Middle East does not abate. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the powerful speaker of the Iranian Parliament, issued a direct and brutal warning to the United States and Israel through a post on Platform
Tehran’s red line
“Any aggression against the soil of Iranian islands will break all restraint,” Ghalibaf said. The Iranian leader’s words leave no room for diplomatic interpretations: “We will abandon all moderation and let the blood of the invaders flow into the Persian Gulf.” Although Ghalibaf did not specify which islands are in his sights, the strategic context points towards a sensitive target. According to a report by Axios, which cites official US sources, the hypothesis of the capture of Kharg island – a vital hub for the Islamic Republic’s oil exports – would be “on the table” of military options should the conflict degenerate further.
The promise of Khamenei’s son
“We promise the late Supreme Leader” Ali Khamenei “that we will follow the path and do our best to continue what we have done in the past and I ask all different political leaders of Iran to do their best to show unity.” Mojtaba Khamenei said this in his first speech as the new Supreme Leader of Iran following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei.
Crime on the Fordow nuclear site
Making the scenario even more incandescent is a piece of news from the Israeli public TV channel Kan. Citing a Saudi report, the broadcaster reported a strong explosion that occurred inside the Fordow nuclear plant, one of Iran’s most protected and sensitive sites, located deep under a mountain to resist air attacks. If confirmed, the Fordow incident could represent the point of no return.
The combination of Ghalibaf’s threats and possible sabotage at the atomic sites suggests that the “maximum pressure” strategy is bringing the entire region to the brink of open war, where the geography of the Gulf and its islands become the new, very dangerous front.