Iran Denounces US Threats to Nuclear Site Amid Rising Gulf Tensions

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Bakaei dismissed US President Donald Trump's threats to strike the underground nuclear facility at Mount Makous near Natanz, calling the accusations a fabricated pretext for aggression and destruction. Bakaei emphasized that no nuclear activity occurs at the site, which has recently drawn heightened American focus.

This statement comes amid escalating hostilities between the US and Iran, with the US military conducting its 11th consecutive night of strikes targeting Iranian assets, including drone hangars and storage facilities. Explosions have been reported across multiple Iranian provinces such as Khuzestan, Hormozgan, Sistan and Baluchestan, Bushehr, Al-Madan, and East Azerbaijan.

The conflict is spreading beyond Iran's borders into the Gulf region. Bahrain activated missile alerts, and residents in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, were instructed to seek shelter before returning to normal shortly after. The Jordanian military intercepted four Iranian missiles, with two others landing in remote areas. Residents near Eilat reported hearing explosions, and an Arkia flight from Tel Aviv altered its route.

Tensions also intensified in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, where an American strike reportedly damaged a control tower on Larak Island, a critical maritime traffic center. No official details on casualties or damage extent have been released. Control over the strait remains a focal point of US-Iran confrontation, with US officials warning that Iranian attempts to dominate the passage could set a dangerous precedent.

The conflict's impact is evident in global energy markets, with Brent crude oil prices rising to around $95 per barrel amid fears of supply disruptions in the Gulf and Red Sea. Yemen's Houthi rebels warned shipping companies that tankers using Saudi ports in the Red Sea could be targeted, prompting some Saudi oil shipments to Asia to reroute.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reported to the Senate that the war's cost has reached $37.5 billion, with over 500 US military personnel wounded and recent disclosures of American fatalities from Iranian attacks in the region.