Iran’s Sharp Warning to US Over “Article 5”; Regional Bases in Crosshairs

Crisis in the Islamabad Agreement and the Article 5 Controversy Diplomatic tensions between Tehran and Washington reached a boiling point on July 13, 2026. The core of this conflict is the conflicting interpretation of “Article 5” of the so-called “Islamabad Agreement,” signed last June to reduce tensions [1]. According to published reports, this article is dedicated to the management and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. While the United States claims this clause obligates Iran to guarantee free international passage, Tehran emphasizes that under this article, the right of sovereignty and full supervision over traffic in this strategic waterway belongs exclusively to Iran [4].

Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced in a press conference today that Washington has brought the agreement to a crisis stage through self-serving interpretations and violations of its commitments. He warned that if the United States continues its deception in implementing security clauses, Iran will also suspend its commitments [1].

“Eye for an Eye” Missile Attacks on US Bases In response to a new wave of CENTCOM attacks on telecommunications infrastructure and ports in southern Iran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has launched an operation dubbed “Eye for an Eye” [2]. Field reports indicate the firing of dozens of ballistic missiles and suicide drones toward United States military bases in neighboring countries.

The “Ali Al-Salem” Air Base in Kuwait and the “Prince Hassan” Base in Jordan were among the primary targets of these attacks [3]. News sources report the destruction of fuel tanks and Patriot defense systems at these centers. It is also reported that US drone command centers in Bahrain and strategic radars in Oman have been targeted [2][3]. This expansion of the conflict scope demonstrates Iran's tactical shift from coastal defense to directly targeting extra-regional assets across the entire Persian Gulf region.

Security Guarantees to Neighbors and Fateful Warnings In a diplomatic message released through official media, Iran assured regional countries that the armed forces of the Islamic Republic have no intention of harming neighboring nations [1]. However, this guarantee comes with a major condition: any country that places its territory or airspace at the disposal of the United States for an attack on Iranian soil will be considered a “legitimate target” [2].

This warning was specifically issued to countries hosting permanent US bases. Tehran emphasized that the “origin and launch point” of any hostile action against Iran, regardless of territorial ownership, will be targeted [1]. This stance has put Kuwait and Bahrain on high alert, activating their air defenses to intercept stray projectiles.

Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and Global Consequences Concurrent with these clashes, Iran once again declared the Strait of Hormuz “closed.” Although US President Donald Trump claims that trade routes are being kept open by military force, ship-tracking data shows a sharp decline in tanker traffic to its lowest level in five weeks [2]. Global oil prices have seen an unprecedented jump in response to these developments, putting financial markets in the red. International observers warn that the complete collapse of the Islamabad Agreement could push the region into a full-scale war with consequences reaching far beyond the borders of the Middle East [4].