As the Middle East crisis deepened further on Saturday, Iran accused the US and Israeli forces of deliberately targeting civilian vessels and passenger ships in Gulf waters through airstrikes, warning of a “harsh response” if such attacks continue.
The statement, issued by Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which oversees military operations, condemned the strikes as “despicable attacks” on private shipping, blaming Washington and Tel Aviv for acting out of inability to confront Iran’s armed forces.
No specific details of the alleged incidents were provided.
The accusations come amid rising tensions across the Gulf and the wider Middle East, following weeks of military exchanges involving Iran, the US, and Israel as the war enters its fourth week.
On Saturday, Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was struck in an airstrike, the official Mizan news agency reported, stating there was no radiation leakage.
Natanz, Iran’s main enrichment site located about 220 kilometres southeast of Tehran, had previously been targeted by Israeli airstrikes during the June 2025 conflict with Iran, as well as by the US.
Satellite images from earlier strikes showed damage to several buildings, though the UN nuclear watchdog had indicated “no radiological consequence” was expected.
Earlier, Iran launched two intermediate-range ballistic missiles targeting the US-UK military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, according to semi-official Iranian news agency Mehr.
While neither missile struck the base, US officials reported one failed mid-flight and a US warship fired an SM-3 interceptor at the other, though it is unclear if it was successful.
Britain condemned the attack as “reckless.” Analysts note the strikes highlight Tehran’s growing missile reach, capable of hitting targets nearly 4,000 kilometers away.
Iranian missiles also struck near Jerusalem, landing just a few hundred meters from the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Eid al-Fitr.
Israeli authorities reported no casualties, though the Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned the attack due to the proximity to significant religious sites.
CALLS TO DE-ESCALATE
Amid these developments, Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said Iran’s escalation endangers regional stability.
Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit highlighted recent visits by regional leaders as “reflecting full Arab solidarity.”
Meanwhile, the US House Speaker Mike Johnson said the military campaign against Iran is “virtually accomplished.”
“We were trying to take out the ballistic missiles, and their means of production, and neuter the navy, and those objectives have been met,” Johnson told the Associated Press.
He acknowledged Iran’s continued threat to ships in the Strait of Hormuz is “dragging it out a little bit,” but added, “As soon as we bring some calm to the situation, I think it’s all but done.”
OVER 13,000 DEAD IN IRAN SINCE FEB 28
The war has exacted a heavy toll, with more than 1,300 deaths in Iran, over 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel, and 13 US military personnel.
Attacks have damaged hospitals, tourist sites, and oil depots, displacing millions in Iran and Lebanon.
Russia condemned the Natanz nuclear facility strike as a “brazen violation of international law” posing “a real risk of catastrophic disaster throughout the Middle East.”
Iran has also demonstrated its expanding capabilities with its Simorgh space launch vehicle, which analysts say could extend ballistic missile range at the cost of accuracy.
Experts describe the launches as a message of defiance, showing Tehran’s ability to strike distant strategic targets, including Diego Garcia.
The conflict shows no sign of abating, with ongoing US-Israel strikes on Iranian targets, Iranian retaliatory attacks across the Gulf, and regional leaders warning of escalating instability.
Observers warn that without a clearly articulated endgame, both military and civilian vulnerabilities will continue to grow, keeping the Gulf and broader Middle East on edge.
