Iran’s top defense command delivered an explicit warning to neighboring Arab states along the Persian Gulf, stating that providing support, host access, or operational facilities to American forces constitutes direct collusion in military action against Tehran.
​The official statement was released at approximately 09:00 am local time on Wednesday by Major General Ali Abdollahi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, through state media channels including the Tasnim and Mehr news agencies in Tehran.
​”We wish to warn that any assistance or facilitation provided to the aggressor U.S. military amounts to participation in the U.S. military operation,” Abdollahi stated.
Issued from the General Staff Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces in Tehran, the directive was distributed globally via state agencies and posted directly to official government accounts on X.
Abdollahi addressed recent declarations by governments along the southern shores of the Persian Gulf asserting that their territory and airspace would not be made available for offensive strikes against Iran.
The Chief of Staff dismissed claims of regional ignorance regarding U.S. military movements. “The presence of this number of military aircraft, particularly aerial refueling aircraft, at regional bases without the knowledge of the host countries seems unlikely,” Abdollahi noted, warning that Iranian surveillance keeps all local installations under continuous monitoring.
Tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated dramatically following military exchanges on February 28, 2026. The latest stern messaging comes as the U.S. Navy redeploys the aircraft carrier USS George Washington to the region to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln.
​Governments across the Persian Gulf have not immediately released public statements in response to the warning issued by Major General Abdollahi.
