Tehran reinforces Gulf defence with missile installations amid US tensions

TEHRAN: Iran has installed new missile systems on three strategic Gulf islands near the Strait of Hormuz, saying they can strike enemy targets, as tensions with the United States remain high.

The weapons were deployed on Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa near the Strait of Hormuz, a globally vital shipping lane.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards recently held military manoeuvres in the area.

Saturday’s announcement comes as Iran prepares to respond to a letter from US President Donald Trump urging a resumption of nuclear talks and warning of possible military action if Iran refuses.

"We have a tactic that we must arm" the island group "and make it operative", said Alireza Tangsiri, naval commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the ideological branch of Iran’s military.

"We are capable of attacking enemy bases, vessels, and assets in the region," he told state television.

The new systems "can completely destroy any target within 600 kilometres (370 miles)".

On Friday, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said US threats against Iran "will get them nowhere", warning that "if they do anything malign to the Iranian nation, they will get a hard slap".

On Thursday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Trump’s letter as "more of a threat" but said it appeared to offer opportunities, noting that Tehran would respond "in the coming days".

In remarks broadcast on Friday, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said Trump was trying to head off armed conflict with Iran by building trust with Tehran.

He said the president’s letter was not intended as a threat.

Iran has controlled the three Gulf islands since 1971, despite their sovereignty being disputed with the United Arab Emirates for decades.

In September, Tangsiri said Iran was "expanding" its defence capabilities on the islands.