Iran hardline paper says British, French warships could be legitimate targets

The editor-in-chief of Iran’s hardline Kayhan newspaper said that Iranian armed forces could target British and French naval vessels over their alleged cooperation with the US and Israel, escalating rhetoric amid heightened regional tensions, Iran International writes.

“The French and British armies have formally announced that they crossed the Suez Canal and entered Red Sea waters to cooperate with the US and Israel. Therefore, attacking these vessels is our natural and recognised right and can be defined within the framework of legal defence,” Hossein Shariatmadari wrote.

Hossein Shariatmadari, who heads the hardline Kayhan newspaper, also said the vessels were within range of Iranian missiles and referred to allied forces in Yemen.

“Yemen’s resistance forces have also eagerly declared their readiness to carry out this divine mission,” he said.

He added that Iran-aligned forces in Yemen had missile dominance over key maritime routes, including the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab strait.

By Aghakazim Guliyev