Iranian official warns Gulf states would be targeted if Iran is attacked

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A former Iranian political adviser involved in earlier nuclear negotiations warned that an attack on Iran's civilian infrastructure would draw retaliation against critical infrastructure in Israel and several Gulf Arab states, according to a social media post attributed to Saeed Mohammad Marandi. He said Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and possibly Oman could face strikes, and called on citizens in those countries to prepare for evacuation. Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi separately stated that any attack on the country's infrastructure would trigger a response targeting infrastructure across the region. Ali Akbar Velayati's adviser Mohammad Mokhber described Iran's infrastructure as a red line in remarks responding to threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump said in mid-July that the United States would strike Iran "very hard" and disable all its power plants and bridges if it did not return to the negotiating table. The U.S. State Department has urged American citizens in the Middle East to exercise caution over potential airspace closures and travel disruptions. The two sides signed a joint memorandum of understanding on June 18, but final negotiations stalled over disputes regarding security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.