Iran threatens to destroy 35 of the American military bases in the middle east, if the US launches offensive against it

A senior Iranian military official warned the US yesterday that they have already prepared comprehensive contingency plans to take out as many as 35 of the American military bases in the region.

Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Commander of Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution Aerospace Force (IRGC-AF) issued the warning and claimed that the Iranian ballistic missiles are capable of destroying American facilities located in the Middle-East, up to an operational range of 1,300 miles.

Iran has developed several Medium Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs) during the last decade, which are capable of targeting many of the strategically important American military facilities in the region. According to defence analysts Iran, possesses five different MRBMs – the Shahab-3, Ghadr-110, Ashoura, Fajr-3, and the Sejjil.

NATO had earlier expressed concerns about the threat Europe faces from the Shahab-3 and the Sejjil missiles. NATO officials have claimed that their proposed European missile defence shield is designed especially against these two Iranian missiles, although Iran has repeatedly denied that it plans to use them for offensive purposes.

The latest announcement is likely to create additional headaches for the American military authorities, as some of the most important American facilities in the region are located only a few hundred miles away from the Iranian border. The Fifth Fleet of the United States Navy is currently headquartered at NSA Bahrain, which lies less than 200 kilometres away from the Iranian border. Similarly, the Al Dhafra Air Base, where the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing of the United States Air Force is located, lies only 300 kilometres to the South of Iran.

The latest development comes even as the IRGC-AF is conducting a military exercise, codenamed as Payambar-e Azam 7 in Central Iran. Large number of short range and medium range ballistic missiles are expected to be test launched during the exercise. Also, Iranian officials have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, if they are attacked first. According to experts, close to 40% of the world’s crude oil supplies, including most of the shipments from KSA and Kuwait pass through the Strait.