Iran (imna) - This comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, particularly following an Israeli attack on Iran's consulate in Syria earlier this month.
According to the UK-based news outlet Middle East Eye, these nations have urged the US not to utilize military bases within their countries for retaliatory actions against Tehran. Unnamed sources suggest that the Persian Gulf states are taking significant measures to prevent any involvement in such a conflict.
A senior US official, speaking anonymously to MEE, confirmed the situation, stating that the Persian Gulf allies are making considerable efforts to close off possible avenues linking them to a US response against Iran. This includes reevaluating the details of basing agreements that allow thousands of American troops to be stationed across the region.
Furthermore, these nations are working to prohibit US warplanes from flying over their airspace in case of a US-led retaliatory strike on Tehran in support of Israel. As the Biden administration prepares for potential Iranian actions, current and former American officials emphasize that a retaliatory attack could be imminent.
The Israeli bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus on April 1 led to the tragic deaths of two senior Iranian military personnel and five accompanying officers. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced the martyrdom of Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi.
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, has vowed that Iran will retaliate against Israel and make the regime "regret" its actions. As tensions continue to rise, the Persian Gulf nations' stance serves as a reminder of the complexities and potential risks involved in any confrontation in the region.
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