FPI / May 15, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump’s multi-day visit to the Middle East, which began on May 13, was the subject of headlines in Iranian state media amid growing optimism in Teheran about a series of indirect talks with an American leader who appears to be changing the strategic landscape in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump is welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Riyadh on May 13. / Saudi Royal CourtIt was impossible not to see Trump’s arrival in Saudi Arabia and visits to other Gulf states in relation to prospects for an unlikely U.S.-Iran security realignment.
Reports from Iranian state media indicate the leadership in Teheran is pleased with how the latest talks went while at the same time scrambling to explain its evolving U.S. relationship to neighboring states.
Iran’s leaders made it a point during Trump’s arrival in Riyadh to highlight its armed forces, with state media quoting Iran’s top general, Maj.-Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, as saying that the armed forces are fully prepared for any threats.
The report in Iranian media said the general visited forces in Iran’s Hormozgan Province, “the country’s strategic southern waters, to assess their combat readiness.”
“Our armed forces are in a state of full readiness to deal with any situation,” he told commanders in the army’s First Naval Region. Bagheri also stressed the role of the navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
IRNA reported that Iranian Army Commander Brig.-Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi and Navy Commander R.-Adm. Shahram Irani accompanied Bagheri during the visit.
In Bandar Abbas, Bagheri visited military units and a naval facility.
This comes weeks after a major explosion in a key southern Iranian port.
“During the tour, Bagheri reviewed progress on defense projects and said that his visit to the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and the Sea of Oman aimed to ensure the readiness of the IRGC and the Army to protect national waters and strategic resources,” IRNA noted.
“Our advice to the enemies who sometimes pose threats against the establishment is: You may initiate a conflict with the Islamic Republic based on a miscalculation, but the ending, manner, timing, location, and developments on the battleground will not be within your control.”
Trump’s visit also comes as Iran’s foreign minister flew to the UAE.
Full Text . . . . Current Edition . . . . Subscription Information
Iran media riveted by Trump visit to region; Regime upbeat after 4th round of talks added by Editor Two on May 15, 2025
View all posts by Editor Two →
Source link