In a speech last week to mark the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, claimed a landmark achievement in the war with the US.
“The nations and lands of the region will no longer serve as shields for American bases,” he said. “America will no longer have a secure foothold for its mischief or military presence in the region.”
For decades, Iran’s clerical regime has made the expulsion of US forces from the Middle East a central aim. Tehran believes that Trump’s war is bringing that vision closer to reality.
Shorts
Many of the largest US bases in the region, especially those closest to Iran, have been targeted by missiles and drones. Meanwhile, Gulf states that host US military assets are wondering if they have become liabilities rather than assets.
