The U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia urged Americans in the region to take additional precautions and avoid non-essential travel to U.S. military installations.
The Trump administration has warned Iran against targeting American military bases, saying any attack on U.S. assets would be met with “very, very powerful force,” as tensions remained elevated amid Iran’s deadly clampdown on nationwide protests and escalating threats from senior Iranian officials.
In a post on X on Jan. 17, the State Department’s Persian-language account said Washington was closely monitoring reports that Tehran may be preparing options to strike U.S. installations in the region.
“We have heard reports that the Islamic Republic is preparing options to target U.S. bases,” the account said, adding that President Donald Trump has repeatedly emphasized that “all options remain on the table.”
“If the Islamic Republic regime attacks U.S. assets, the Islamic Republic will face ‘very, very powerful force,’” the post said, quoting Trump. “We have said this before, and we say it again: do not play games with President Trump.”
The warning came as Iranian officials blamed foreign actors for violence linked to protests that rights activists say have killed more than 3,000 people, and as senior figures in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued their own threats against Trump.
Mohsen Rezaei, a senior IRGC general and member of Iran’s Expediency Council, issued a direct warning aimed at Trump on Jan. 15, saying Iran would retaliate if attacked and that U.S. military sites would not be safe.
“Trump has said his hand is on the trigger. We will cut off his hand and his finger,” Rezaei said on Jan. 15, according to the Iran International news agency.
Rezaei added that Iran would no longer accept a cease-fire if the country is attacked.
“If we move forward, there will be no talk of a ceasefire anymore,” he said. “You do not pay attention to the restraint and strategic patience we have shown. Stop right now. Step back, otherwise none of your bases in the region will be safe.”
Trump has repeatedly hinted at possible military action against Iran over the bloody protest crackdown.
By Tom Ozimek
