TEHRAN (Azat TV) – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued an urgent warning on Saturday, calling on the United States to evacuate all American industrial facilities across the region. This directive follows an attack on a factory in Isfahan that produced cooling and heating equipment, resulting in over 15 fatalities, according to Fars News Agency. The warning underscores the escalating tensions stemming from U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which commenced on February 28 and caused significant damage, including the deaths of senior Iranian figures such as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several IRGC commanders.
IRGC Targets and Regional Implications
The IRGC has explicitly designated major UAE ports, including Jebel Ali and Khalifa, as legitimate targets in its ongoing retaliation. This warning comes as commercial shipping has been halted and civilian evacuations ordered in Fujairah following a confirmed Saturday attack. While Dubai International Financial Centre sustained damage to its building facade from interception debris, financial operations have continued remotely, demonstrating resilience. The UAE reported intercepting nine missiles and 33 drones on Saturday, consistent with increasingly systematic Iranian barrages across the Gulf.
Iran’s Diplomatic Offensive and Gulf State Responses
Simultaneously, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appealed to Gulf neighbors and other Middle Eastern nations to expel foreign aggressors, arguing that the U.S. security umbrella is ineffective and provokes conflict. “Touted U.S. security umbrella has proven to be full of holes and inviting rather than deterring trouble,” Araghchi stated on social media, pointing to Iran’s assertion that U.S. bases attract strikes. Tehran is formally urging countries like Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE to remove U.S. military forces, contending that regional security is best managed independently. Despite this diplomatic pressure, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE have issued citizen evacuation warnings, while Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait have curbed oil production. Qatar has also halted LNG supply, further impacting global energy markets due to the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Escalating Rhetoric and Escalation Fears
The IRGC spokesperson, Ali Mohammad Naini, declared, “Iran will determine when the war ends,” signaling no intention to de-escalate. This statement aligns with remarks from Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, who stated, “Absolutely, we are not seeking a ceasefire; we believe we must strike the aggressor in the mouth so that it learns a lesson.” These declarations come amid heightened rhetoric from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who warned of severe retaliation if Iran obstructs oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump’s threats included inflicting damage that would make rebuilding Iran as a nation virtually impossible. The ongoing conflict, which began with U.S.-Israel strikes on February 28, has resulted in over 1,450 Iranian deaths, according to HRANA estimates, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining effectively closed, impacting a fifth of global oil transit.
The IRGC’s dual strategy of issuing direct warnings to the U.S. regarding industrial sites while simultaneously designating key regional ports as targets highlights a deliberate escalation aimed at compelling both foreign military withdrawal and regional realignment.