Former advisor to Iran Supreme Leader threatens Israel , Gulf states

What Happened

On August 1, 2026, Mohammad Marandi, a former senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, posted on X/Twitter threatening that if Iran's civilian infrastructure is struck, the critical infrastructure of Gulf states — specifically naming Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and potentially Oman — alongside Israel and possibly Jordan, would be destroyed. He urged civilians in those countries to 'immediately prepare to evacuate.' The threat was linked to statements from the Trump administration. Separately, an Israeli official told CBS that Israel is not aware of any decision to fully resume military activity and has not been asked to join any military action against Iran. The Washington Post reported that US European Command chief Gen. Alexus Grynkewich privately warned Pentagon officials that he lacked sufficient naval forces to continue defending Israel from Iranian ballistic missiles, citing strain from a blockade of Iranian ports ordered after Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz. The report noted that US Navy destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean, equipped with advanced radar and missiles, have historically intercepted launches from Iran and the Houthis. Concurrently, US embassies in Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq issued travel advisories urging citizens to consider leaving. Ali Abdollahi, commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, warned regional countries against cooperating with the US, stating they 'will burn in the fire of war' and accused Washington of exploiting regional resources to shield Israel.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The threats mark a significant rhetorical escalation, with Iran explicitly menacing Gulf monarchies that host US bases or are perceived as aligned with Washington. Combined with the reported US naval strain and the Strait of Hormuz crisis, the incident illustrates how the multi-layered standoff — spanning Iran's nuclear programme, regional proxy networks, and direct US-Iran-Israel tensions — risks expanding into a broader regional war involving civilian infrastructure and non-belligerent states. The public revelation of US force limitations also signals potential vulnerabilities in the defensive architecture that has shielded Israel from missile attacks.

Watch For

Monitor whether Iran or its proxies act on threats against Gulf infrastructure; observe any US or Israeli military movements or force redeployments, particularly additional destroyers to the eastern Mediterranean; track emergency diplomatic efforts by Qatar, Oman, or other intermediaries; watch for closure or disruption of the Strait of Hormuz and its economic impact; and note any formal US or Israeli policy statements on resuming military action.