Tehran, March 14: Iran's military launched a new round of missile strikes on Saturday as part of its ongoing offensive against regional adversaries in the escalating conflict in West Asia, according to Iranian state media outlet Press TV. The attack followed a warning from an Iranian military spokesperson who indicated that Tehran could target ports and docks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in retaliation for recent US missile strikes on Kharg Island, a vital hub for Iran's oil exports.
The warning came as tensions intensified in the Gulf region after the US launched missile strikes on Kharg Island's military facilities on Friday. Iran's spokesperson emphasized that the UAE’s ports and docks could be targeted due to their involvement in housing US military operations. Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said, “We warn the UAE leadership that Iran considers it its legitimate right to strike the sources of American missile launches—hidden in ports, docks, and shelters used by US forces under the cover of Emirati cities—to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Kharg Island, which accounts for approximately 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, is crucial to the country’s economy. Despite the recent strikes, both US officials and Iranian media reports confirmed that oil infrastructure was not targeted. Earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on X (formerly Twitter) that over 90 Iranian military sites on Kharg Island were destroyed in a precision strike. The US forces claimed they successfully hit naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and other military sites, without damaging oil-related infrastructure.
Iran has continued to assert that its military actions in the Gulf are directed primarily at US military interests, despite reports of collateral damage to civilian infrastructure, including hotels and high-rise buildings. In response, Tehran has pledged to escalate its use of upgraded weapon systems, including ballistic missiles and other high-impact munitions, to strengthen its offensive strategy.
