Iranian missiles remain a threat to the US and its allies - Rezazade

Despite the recent 12-day military conflict between Iran and Israel, Tehran retains a significant missile potential capable of delivering serious strikes on US military bases and their allies in the Persian Gulf region. 

This is being warned by the governments of the countries of the region against the background of the increase in the American military presence by the decision of the Donald Trump administration.

According to Western officials, US allies in the Persian Gulf emphasize that the Iranian missile program has not only not been destroyed, but also remains one of the key instruments of deterrence and blackmail by Tehran. These are primarily medium-range ballistic missiles capable of hitting targets in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, as well as American military facilities in the region.

International expert and first vice president of the Iranian opposition in Washington, Ali Reza Rezazade, notes that the current situation creates one of the most dangerous configurations in recent years. “Iran’s missile program is not a defensive tool, but a mechanism for strategic pressure. It is deliberately aimed at keeping American bases and the energy infrastructure of US allies under its sights,” the expert emphasizes.

According to him, Tehran views possible US strikes as a pretext for a large-scale regional escalation. Iran’s supreme leader has already stated that any direct attack by Washington would lead to a “regional war.” “This is the classic logic of the regime — to threaten chaos in order to deter the West from taking forceful decisions. In fact, Iran is using its own missiles as an instrument of nuclear blackmail without nuclear weapons,” Rezazade explains.

The expert emphasizes that the Gulf countries are increasingly aware of the vulnerability of their security. “Even a limited missile attack can paralyze oil infrastructure, air bases and ports. This is not only a military but also a global economic threat,” he notes.

According to Rezazade, the current US dilemma is the choice between deterrence and direct confrontation. “A strike on Iran can provoke a chain reaction - from attacks in Lebanon and Yemen to massive missile strikes on American facilities in the region. But the lack of decisive action only encourages Tehran to further militarize,” the expert concludes.

According to his assessment, the missile threat from Iran is becoming one of the key factors in the formation of a new security architecture in the Middle East, where any miscalculation can lead to a large-scale regional conflict.