Breaking: Iran's Supreme Leader Warns Gulf Nations Against Hosting US Military Bases

In a significant message marking the Eid al-Adha holiday, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, emphasized that the time when regional countries could serve as shields for American bases is now behind us. According to Khamenei, the United States is losing its grip on the region, with each passing day taking it further away from its former influential position. The Supreme Leader's statement comes amidst ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States aimed at reaching a deal to bring an end to the conflict that began on February 28 and has since spread across the region. Despite a fragile ceasefire being in place since April 8, tensions remain high. Iran's Foreign Ministry has indicated that while understandings have been reached on several issues, an agreement is not yet imminent. Meanwhile, the Iran Revolutionary Guards announced the downing of a US drone and the shooting at other aircraft that attempted to enter Iranian airspace, although the timing of these incidents was not specified. The Guards also issued a warning against any violation of the ceasefire by the US military, stating that they reserve the right to respond reciprocally. This warning follows a US Central Command announcement that its forces had attacked missile sites in southern Iran and boats attempting to lay mines, despite the ceasefire agreement. While Iran has not officially confirmed the US attack, state media reported blasts in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas without attributing the cause. The current Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who is 56 years old, took office after his father Ali Khamenei was killed in the initial US-Israel strikes on February 28, which led to retaliatory attacks by Tehran across the region.