# Gulf security
Latest news and articles about Gulf security
Total: 6 articles found
Khamenei Rejects U.S. Limits on Iran’s Missiles and Warns Aircraft Carriers Are Vulnerable
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected U.S. objections to Iran’s missile programme and warned that American aircraft carriers can be made vulnerable by weapons Tehran possesses or is developing. His remarks reflect Tehran’s emphasis on asymmetric deterrence and raise the political and operational stakes for U.S. naval presence in the Gulf.
Iran Deploys 'Underground Missile City' and New MRBM, Putting Israel and Gulf Bases in Range
Iran's IRGC says it has placed a new Khorramshahr-4 medium-range missile in underground facilities and opened a fortified 'missile city,' claiming a 2,000 km range that would reach Israel and US bases in the Gulf. The move boosts survivability and signalling leverage but is likely to raise tensions, complicate regional defence planning and challenge arms-control efforts.
Why Washington Is Reviving the Threat of Force Against Iran: Coercion, Probing, and the Risk of Miscalculation
U.S. threats of military action against Iran are best understood as coercive diplomacy: calibrated pressure meant to force concessions and test Tehran's red lines without triggering full-scale war. The approach raises risks of asymmetric retaliation, regional escalation, and economic disruption while leaving room for back-channel diplomacy to reduce tensions.
U.S. Defence Chief Warns Iran: Talks or ‘Other Options’ as Washington Says It Is ‘Very Prepared’
U.S. Defence Secretary Hegseth warned that Iran faces “other options” if nuclear talks fail, saying the military is “very well” prepared, while President Trump reiterated threats of force. Both officials framed diplomacy as possible but secondary to a posture of preparedness, raising concerns about escalation in a region already strained by sanctions and nuclear tensions.
Iran Parades ‘Abu Mahdi’ Cruise Missiles and Underground ‘Missile City’ — A Signal to U.S. Fleets
Iran publicly showcased a subterranean missile complex storing hundreds of new “Abu Mahdi” anti‑ship cruise missiles that Tehran says can reach beyond 1,000 km and penetrate warship defences. The display is both a tactical signal about asymmetric coastal striking capability and a strategic challenge to U.S. naval operations in the Gulf and nearby waters.
Washington Clears $9bn Patriot Missile Sale to Saudi Arabia While Approving Major Arms Package for Israel
The U.S. has approved a $9 billion sale of 730 PAC-3 MSE Patriot missiles to Saudi Arabia and a separate $6.67 billion package to Israel that includes Apaches and JLTVs. Washington frames the transfers as defensive steps to protect forces and advance regional security, but the moves carry risks of prompting countermeasures and political scrutiny in Congress.