Iranian Revolutionary Guards Warn US Bases Within Tehran's Missile Range

Amir Ali Hajizadeh, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) airspace division, said Wednesday that US bases in Afghanistan, the UAE and Qatar, as well as US aircraft carriers in the Gulf, were within range of Iranian missiles, Reuters reported, citing Tasnim news agency.

"They are within our reach, and we can hit them if they make a move… Our land-to-sea missiles have a range of 700 kilometers [450 miles]… and the US aircraft carriers are our targets," Hajizadeh was quoted as saying by Reuters.

The statement came as tensions between Washington and Tehran are gaining momentum.

US President Donald Trump announced in May that he was pulling the US from the Iranian nuclear deal. The US withdrawal resulted in two rounds of anti-Iran sanctions, with large-scale restrictions covering oil exports being slapped on the Tehran in early November.

However, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said last week that US sanctions would not have a dramatic impact on Iranian oil exports, despite Washington’s continued threats to cut them to zero.

In early July, the IRGC said they were prepared to disrupt other countries' oil shipments via the Hormuz strait if Iran's own exports were impeded.

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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has warned that Washington would respond swiftly and decisively to any Iranian attack on US interests.