Iran Threatens Saudi Arabia and UAE to Remove US Bases or Face Attack Amid New Sanctions

Iran has issued a direct threat to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, demanding they evacuate American military bases on their soil or face military attacks. This warning follows the announcement of new US sanctions against Iran by the Treasury Department on Monday evening. Israeli officials warn that if Iran carries out this threat, it could significantly increase the chances of a regional war.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin described the sanctions as the "largest financial attack ever" on an enemy, marking the final phase of what President Donald Trump called an "economic D-Day" against Iran. Trump declared that "Iran is collapsing completely." According to Reuters, the US Treasury plans to expand sanctions on countries and entities doing business with Iran, targeting key sectors of the Iranian economy. Mnuchin emphasized that Iran's survival was based on "extortion disguised as security promises," which has ended under Trump’s administration.

Iranian officials responded strongly to these claims. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Qassem Gharibabadi criticized Mnuchin’s narrative, calling it contradictory and dismissing the US sanctions as a failed attempt to weaken Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that despite the economic, military, and security war waged against Iran, the country remains resilient and committed to serving its nation.

Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and advisor to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, warned that Trump’s policies have pushed the world toward a nuclear arms race. He vowed that Iran will not surrender to US economic pressure and threatened a strong military response to any new aggressive moves. Rezaei also warned regional countries against cooperating with the US sanctions, threatening to target their interests and block oil exports from the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz if they do.

Meanwhile, Iran announced that Omani Foreign Minister will visit Tehran to continue talks on the Strait of Hormuz. The escalating rhetoric and sanctions deepen tensions in the Gulf, raising fears of a broader conflict in the region.