TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a sharp warning to neighboring countries, stating that regional security depends on them refusing to allow their territory to be used by Iran’s adversaries. The declaration comes amid a dramatic and violent escalation between Iran, the United States, and Israel, marked by high-profile assassinations and reciprocal military strikes.
In a message directed at the region’s governments, President Pezeshkian outlined a strict condition for peace. “If you want security, do not give your land to our enemies for war,” the President said, according to state media. He elaborated that nations seeking progress and stability must not permit their soil to be utilized by Iran’s enemies.
The Iranian president reiterated that while Tehran does not support aggression, any attack on Iranian infrastructure or economic centers launched from a neighboring country would be met with a “firm and vigorous” response.
The warning follows a dramatic escalation in hostilities. According to Iranian state media reports, on February 28, the United States and Israel conducted a major attack inside Iran. The reports claim the strike resulted in the deaths of several top officials, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Minister of Defense, the Army Chief, members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the National Security Advisor. Since that date, the reports add, continued strikes have targeted military and political figures, killed numerous civilians, and severely damaged Iranian infrastructure.
In response to the sustained attacks, Iran has intensified its retaliatory actions, shifting the battlefield to the Gulf region. Tehran has reportedly been repeatedly targeting US military installations, assets, and commercial interests—including oil and gas facilities—across the Gulf.
The escalating tit-for-tat has alarmed Gulf Arab states, prompting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to formally request US assistance in countering Iranian strikes.
Tensions spiked further following a recent Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. The assault on the facility, which hosts US military personnel, reportedly left at least 15 American soldiers injured. Sources indicate that several of the wounded are in critical condition. The attack represents a significant escalation in direct Iranian military action against US forces in the region.
As of now, the White House and the Pentagon have not officially confirmed the casualties at Prince Sultan Air Base, though officials have acknowledged heightened alert status across US Central Command’s area of responsibility. The region remains on edge as both sides appear locked in a cycle of retaliation that threatens to draw the entire Gulf into a wider conflict
