Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a direct threat to UK military bases and a chilling warning to the Royal Family, following US bombing raids launched from British soil.
IRGC declares RAF Fairford a 'legitimate target'
In a statement released today, the IRGC explicitly declared that "any base used to invade Iranian territory is our legitimate target" after American B1 bombers took off from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The base has been used by the US Air Force since March, when Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer authorised its use for "defensive" strikes.
The IRGC said: "The aggressive US military, which had been using cruise missiles from its ships in the Indian Ocean in its aggressions after the official resumption of the war, turned to using B1 aircraft flying from Fairford Air Base in England yesterday, as the missile reserves of the aforementioned ships ran out."
Warning to the Royal Family
The hard-line force escalated its rhetoric with a warning aimed directly at the Royal Family. The statement said: "We warn the British monarchy, which is the main cause of the misfortunes of the people of our region and has a dark record of dividing Islamic countries, widespread massacres in these countries, imposing authoritarian governments, and worst of all, organising and leading the occupation of Palestine and the creation of the Israeli Nakba, and has participated most in the recent aggressions of the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran, not to burden its case any further."
The latest statement, titled "Warning to the British monarchy", came as violence spiralled in the Middle East following the collapse of the ceasefire deal between Iran and the US. The Iranian military group also warned "this time we will not allow America to replace its oil and ammunition reserves with deceptive ceasefires and then resume attacks", after a 12th consecutive night of US strikes on Iran.
Houthi attacks and oil prices soar
The Houthis, an armed Islamist group aligned with Iran, struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea last night after announcing a blockade of the Bab al Mandeb Strait on Tuesday. These attacks have seen oil prices soar, with oil topping $100 a barrel for the first time since May. The Bab al Mandeb strait, at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, is a chokepoint for oil tankers and cargo vessels.
