Iran pushes back against US amid escalating regional tensions
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Photo: IANS
Iran continued to resist pressure from the United States and its regional allies as a fresh wave of military exchanges heightened concerns over a broader conflict in West Asia.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released footage on Wednesday claiming to show overnight strikes on a US military base in Jordan, describing the attack as retaliation for what it called "aggressive actions" by Washington. Jordan, however, said its air defences intercepted all five ballistic missiles, Al Jazeera reported.
US President Donald Trump warned that Iran would face a strong military response over the attack in Jordan. He also said his administration was considering further action against Iran-backed groups operating across the region, including in Iraq.
Iranian authorities later reported that a missile struck a border area in West Azerbaijan province, though no casualties were reported. Around the same time, Israel said a drone launched by the Iran-backed Hezbollah targeted an Israeli military vehicle in southern Lebanon.
The escalation came amid intensified hostilities elsewhere in the region. Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen reportedly carried out attacks on Saudi oil facilities and Saudi-linked vessels in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. At least 20 fighters were killed as the United States and Saudi Arabia launched joint airstrikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq
Meanwhile, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, rejected an Omani proposal to split management of the Strait of Hormuz equally between the two sides. Speaking to Iranian state television, he said Tehran would not accept a US-backed southern maritime route near Oman or any third route proposed under the plan. He also rejected proposals for foreign-led demining operations in the strategic waterway.
Iranian officials further accused the United States of carrying out acts of aggression by imposing a naval blockade on Iran's southern ports. They also alleged that Washington had failed to honour several commitments contained in a memorandum of understanding signed in June, including the release of frozen Iranian assets, and arrangements concerning maritime routes near Oman.