DID Press: Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, has warned regional countries that any assistance or facilitation provided to the U.S. military in operations against Iran would be considered direct participation in military aggression.
Abdollahi said the presence and movements of U.S. military aircraft, particularly aerial refueling tankers, at regional bases were being closely monitored by Iran and could not remain unnoticed.
In an official message addressed to regional governments, Abdollahi warned that any cooperation, logistical support or provision of infrastructure to the U.S. military for potential operations against Iran would be treated as involvement in an act of aggression.
His remarks came after several Gulf states issued statements saying they would not allow their territory to be used for attacks against Iran. Abdollahi nevertheless argued that the scale of U.S. military aircraft and tanker movements at regional bases would be difficult to conduct without the knowledge of host countries.
The warning is part of Tehran’s declared policy of responding to the “source of aggression”, which Iranian officials have repeatedly invoked in response to U.S. military activity in the region.
Iranian military officials have previously warned that countries participating in U.S. military operations could face direct retaliation.