A major Iranian news agency just posted images of US military bases in the Middle East — and didn’t say a word about why. It’s the latest sign that tensions between Tehran and Washington are still running high, even as both sides talk about the possibility of sitting down for direct negotiations.
The images came from Fars, a news agency widely seen as having close ties to Iran’s security establishment. Over several days, they shared photos of American military facilities in the Gulf, with no commentary — just dates from the Persian calendar. No explanation, no context. Naturally, that’s raised eyebrows among regional governments and international observers.
This is all happening while US President Donald Trump has been openly floating the idea of military action against Iran if it doesn’t agree to limits on its nuclear program. Iranian officials haven’t been shy about their response either, repeatedly warning they’d hit back immediately — and they’ve made it clear that US bases in the Gulf are at the top of their target list if things go south.
On Wednesday, Fars posted images of Isa Air Base in Bahrain, a major hub for US forces. AFP later confirmed the images weren’t new, and there’s no sign they represent fresh intelligence. Still, the timing and the silence around them are what’s getting attention.
US allies are paying close attention. French President Emmanuel Macron said France is keeping a close watch on the situation because of French troops stationed in the region, and that they’ve taken all the necessary steps to keep them safe.
Then there’s this: earlier this week, a US fighter jet had to intercept an Iranian drone that got too close to the USS Abraham Lincoln, the aircraft carrier that was sent to the region just last month. Not exactly a calming development.
And inside Iran, the messaging is loud and clear. A new billboard went up in Tehran showing US aircraft crashed into a hillside, with Iranian flags planted on top. Subtle, it’s not.
The bottom line? US-Iran relations are still tense, and both sides seem to be making sure the other knows it.