Iranian Khatam al-Anbiya commander: US ordered oil tankers to evacuate, warns any damage will trigger strikes on US bases

Iranian Claims of Imminent Strike

According to reports emerging Tuesday night, Ali Abdollahi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces and a senior figure within the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, stated that the "invading American military" has issued evacuation warnings to Iranian oil tankers. The Iranian command characterizes these warnings as a precursor to a planned kinetic strike against Iran's maritime energy assets.

While the United States has not publicly confirmed such an order, the Iranian statement frames the situation as an immediate threat to its sovereign economic interests. "I declare that any aggression against Iranian oil tankers will result in the Iranian Islamic Republic's armed forces targeting American bases in the region," Abdollahi reportedly stated, signaling a potential shift toward direct confrontation between Tehran and Washington.

Context of Maritime Escalation

The Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters serves as the operational nerve center for Iran's military strategy, coordinating between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Artesh (regular army). As The Zioneer has previously reported, this headquarters has been at the forefront of Iran's maritime strategy, including prior attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz and threats against vessels cooperating with Western financial initiatives.

This latest friction follows a period of heightened naval tension. In early September, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) warned Tehran that its oil fleet was "next" after American forces disabled three IRGC-linked tankers in response to a ballistic missile attack on U.S. naval assets. The current Iranian rhetoric appears to be a direct response to that established American policy of maritime deterrence.

Analysis and Regional Stakes

The threat to target American regional bases—which include major installations in Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE—marks a significant escalation in Iranian rhetoric. By linking the safety of its oil tankers to the security of U.S. land-based assets, Tehran is attempting to create a new equation of deterrence.

At this stage, the situation remains developing. It is unclear if the reported evacuation orders represent a specific, localized tactical warning or a broader strategic shift. However, the involvement of the Khatam al-Anbiya command indicates that the threat is being handled at the highest operational level of the Iranian regime. The Zioneer will continue to monitor official statements from CENTCOM and the Pentagon for verification of the reported evacuation orders.