On Saturday, state media revealed that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards have put advanced missile systems on three disputed islands in the Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical choke point for global shipping through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes. This comes amid rising tensions with the US, especially after President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran calling for new nuclear negotiations, talking about the possibility of military action if Iran did not agree.
The missiles can reportedly strike targets located as far as 600 kilometers (370 miles) away and are positioned on Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa. Ali Reza Tangsiri, the naval commander of the Revolutionary Guards, said that these systems have the power to “completely destroy” enemy bases, ships, and assets.
The three strategic islands were an integral part of Iran throughout its history, first as dominions of the King of Hormuz from 1330 until 1507, when Portugal invaded and occupied the islands until their liberation by the Safavids in 1622, and then as a part of various Persian dynasties until 1921, when they were once again invaded and occupied. This time by the British Empire, which later put the islands under the administration of the Emirate of Sharjah, which would later become part of the UAE. The islands were recaptured by Iran in 1971, but the United Arab Emirates continues to lay claim to them. Ali Reza Tangsiri, the naval commander of the Revolutionary Guards, said that these systems have the power to “completely destroy” enemy bases, ships, and assets.
Trump’s letter, labeled by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as “more of a threat,” has not done much to ease tensions. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has warned the US that threats “will get them nowhere,” promising severe retaliation if attacked. Araghchi said that Tehran would respond formally to the letter soon.