Key facts
- IRGC ground forces commander Mohammad Karami stated fighters in northwestern Iran are operationally ready to respond to threats.
- Kuwait reported intercepting and destroying drones targeting vital facilities, attributing the action to Iran.
- A commercial tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile near Oman.
- Yemen's Houthis claimed to have disrupted shipping by forcing Saudi vessels to change course.
- Iran's Foreign Ministry stated no direct talks are currently occurring between Tehran and Washington.
Mohammad Karami, ground forces commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), announced on Monday that fighters in northwestern Iran are prepared to deliver a decisive response to any threats from "extra-regional enemies or terrorist groups." He stated that the Hamzeh Seyyed al-Shohada Headquarters forces possess "operational readiness, and leveraging faith, technology, and modern sciences."
This statement comes amidst escalating military confrontations between the United States and Iran, characterized by sustained air strikes and retaliatory missile attacks. Kuwait reported that its military intercepted and destroyed drones targeting vital facilities, attributing the action to Iran. Meanwhile, a commercial tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile northeast of Limah, Oman. Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed to have disrupted shipping by forcing eight Saudi ships to change course, and six Saudi-flagged supertankers were observed changing their routes in the Gulf of Aden due to these threats.
In diplomatic channels, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed regional developments with his Omani counterpart, Badr al-Busaidi. Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, clarified that no direct talks are currently underway between Tehran and Washington, though diplomatic engagement is ongoing with regional counterparts. Separately, Brigadier General Seyed Majid Mousavi of the IRGC Aerospace Force issued a message emphasizing public support and warning of a firm response to any hostile action, referencing a period of "imposed war."