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Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned Thursday that Tehran would retaliate forcefully if the United States or Israel attacked Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf, escalating rhetoric surrounding the ongoing war with Iran.
"Any aggression against soil of Iranian islands will shatter all restraint. We will abandon all restraint and make the Persian Gulf run with the blood of invaders," Qalibaf wrote in a post on X.
"Homeland or Death!" he added.
Qalibaf also said the blood of American soldiers would be the personal responsibility of U.S. President Donald Trump if such an attack occurred.
His remarks came amid heightened tensions during the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
It was not immediately clear which islands Qalibaf was referring to in his comments.
Iran controls three islands that it seized from the United Arab Emirates before the country's formation in 1971.
There has also been speculation that the United States could target Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, which serves as Iran's main oil export terminal.
A recent Axios report citing U.S. officials said capturing Kharg Island had been considered as the war in the Middle East continues to escalate.
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