Iran claims US suffered ‘humiliating defeat’

The commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, has described the United States’ confrontation with Iran as a major setback for Washington.

Speaking at a ceremony in Tehran, Qaani claimed that the US had been pushed out of Iraq despite its military capabilities. He said Washington had initially expected Iran to surrender within days or a few weeks but instead faced a situation that differed sharply from its calculations.

Qaani also said that remaining US influence in the region should eventually be removed. He accused Washington of attempting to downplay its withdrawal from Iraq by focusing on secondary issues.

Meanwhile, the United States has strengthened its military presence in the Middle East amid concerns over a possible resumption of major operations against Iran.

According to reports citing US officials, Washington has deployed additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to protect critical energy infrastructure. One system was reportedly positioned near a major Saudi oil facility, while another was deployed to safeguard a gas installation in Qatar.

The reported deployments come as US President Donald Trump considers renewed military action against Iran. Saudi and Qatari leaders had previously warned Washington that attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure could trigger retaliation against their own oil and gas facilities.

The US is also moving additional military assets toward the region. The USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group have reportedly departed from the United States, carrying thousands of personnel. Their arrival could further increase the American military presence around Iran.

Fighting intensifies in Yemen

The regional tensions have also spilled into Yemen. The Houthi movement accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes on Sanaa and areas in Saada, Taiz and Amran provinces.

Yemeni military officials separately claimed that dozens of strikes targeted Houthi positions in Taiz, including missile storage facilities, command centres, weapons sites and military vehicles. The claims could not be independently verified.

Saudi Arabia’s coalition, meanwhile, said its air defences intercepted two ballistic missiles and four drones launched toward southern parts of the kingdom.

Regional condemnation follows Medina attack

Several Muslim countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned a reported drone attack on an electricity facility in Medina that serves the area around the Prophet’s Mosque.

Türkiye, the UAE, Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain expressed support for Saudi Arabia and called for an end to attacks on civilian infrastructure and sites connected to Islamic holy places.

The OIC described the incident as a serious escalation and reaffirmed its support for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to protect its territory and holy sites.

Iran calls for normal flights with Iraq

Iran has also urged Iraq to remove restrictions affecting air travel between the two countries.

Tehran said restoring normal flights would help passengers, including pilgrims, patients, students and business travellers. Iran also criticised what it described as US sanctions disrupting its regional trade and transport links.