US Central Command (CENTCOM) organized a high-level meeting on regional security in Bahrain, involving 12 nations. Just hours after the meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the US initiative, stating that “outsiders cannot even protect themselves,” and questioned external interference in regional security.
In a post on X, Araghchi wrote, “Has CENTCOM brought security or insecurity to our region? The answer is clear. Furthermore, our powerful armed forces have proven that outsiders cannot even protect themselves. Peace in our region can only be sustained if it is comprehensive and inclusive, and free from external interference.”
Iran Targets CENTCOM Meeting
Before Araghchi’s sharp criticism regarding the regional summit in Manama, Tehran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi had also criticized CENTCOM over the meeting with military officials from 12 countries. He dismissed the West’s alleged attempt to determine the security framework for the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.
In a post on X, he wrote, “Hormuz is under Iran’s control, not CENTCOM’s. The military summit in Bahrain cannot establish a legal order or security for the Persian Gulf. Regional security will be ensured by ending interference, the withdrawal of the US from the area, respect for national sovereignty, and the acceptance of new geopolitical realities—not under US military tutelage.”
US CENTCOM Convenes Regional Security Meeting
On Wednesday (local time), US Central Command led regional security talks hosted by the Bahrain Defence Force, attended by regional defense leaders from 12 countries. In a post on X, US CENTCOM wrote, “The US and regional partners operate the world’s most modern and largest active air and missile defense shield in the Middle East. In January, CENTCOM and regional nations established a new Middle East Air Defense Coordination Cell to share information and threat warnings, as well as to address emergencies.”
CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper met with senior military officials from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen to discuss the current security environment and opportunities to enhance defense cooperation in the region. CENTCOM stated that defense officials also emphasized their commitment to the uninterrupted flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway that has been a point of contention in interactions between the US and Iran.
Iran’s warning regarding designated routes in Hormuz
According to an AP report, Tehran’s Joint Military Command warned on Thursday (local time) that all oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz must use approved routes; otherwise, they would face a “stern response.” This move is likely to reignite tensions surrounding the strategic waterway.
A statement from the Joint Military Command read, “Failure to comply, deviating from the designated route, or disregarding the Islamic Republic of Iran’s navigation protocols in the Strait of Hormuz will result in an immediate and stern response from the armed forces, jeopardizing the safety of vessels that violate the rules.” The AP reported that while it remains unclear what prompted Tehran’s warning regarding oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a statement from US CENTCOM—issued following a meeting with military officials from Middle Eastern nations in Bahrain—may have angered Iran; the statement emphasized the leaders’ “shared commitment to the free flow of commerce through the strait.”
Tehran also warned against any intervention by US forces in the Strait of Hormuz, stating that it would be met with a “swift and decisive response.”
This warning from the Islamic Republic comes just days after US negotiators held indirect talks with mediators—Pakistan and Qatar—in Doha.
(With agency inputs)