TEHRAN: A high-ranking commander from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards has warned that the Mediterranean Sea could be closed in response to “crimes” committed by the Israel, the United States and its allies in Gaza.
The remarks, made by Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi, the coordinating commander of the Guards, were reported by Iranian media on Saturday. However, the statement lacked details on the mechanism through which such closure would take place.
Iran has been a vocal supporter of Hamas in its conflict with Israel, accusing the United States of endorsing “Israeli crimes” in Gaza. The region has witnessed weeks of intense bombardment, resulting in thousands of Palestinian casualties and widespread displacement.
Iran Warns of Closing Mediterranean Sea
“They shall soon await the closure of the Mediterranean Sea, and other waterways,” Gen. Naqdi declared, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim. The statement raises questions about the feasibility and potential consequences of such a drastic measure.
Yemen’s Houthi group has recently targeted merchant vessels in the Red Sea in retaliation for Israel’s actions in Gaza, prompting some shipping companies to change their routes. The White House has accused Iran of being “deeply involved” in planning operations against commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
Despite lacking direct access to the Mediterranean, Gen. Naqdi spoke of “the birth of new powers of resistance and the closure of other waterways.”
