Iran warns of using missiles to destroy US aircraft carriers
Iran's minister warned that his country's missiles could wipe out US aircraft carriers in the Gulf if Washington attacked Tehran.
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| Iran's ballistic missile. Photo: Reuters |
“American bases are within the range of our missiles. Our missiles will destroy American aircraft carriers if they make a mistake. The Americans know too well the consequences of a military confrontation with Iran,” Iranian Minister of Cultural and Social Affairs Hossein Nejat warned on July 9.
However, according to Minister Nejat, the war scenario is not on President Donald Trump's "agenda" and the US leader still wants to "entice Iran to negotiate through maximum pressure".
According to Iranian officials, President Trump did not retaliate after Iran shot down a US drone last month because he knew that "the bases from which the US launched operations were within range of Iranian missiles."
Earlier, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' air force, Amirali Hajideh, said that the presence of US ships in the region creates more "opportunities" for Iran to test its missiles. Meanwhile, Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mohammad Saleh Jokar, warned that even Iran's short-range missiles could easily hit US warships in the Gulf.
After the drone was shot down, President Trump on June 20 withdrew the order to strike facilities in Iran just 10 minutes before the attack plan was carried out. Mr. Trump was concerned that the US attack could take the lives of 150 people.
Tensions between the US and Iran have escalated in recent weeks after Washington blamed Tehran for attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The US also accused Iran of shooting down a US drone operating in international airspace. Iran has denied all allegations.