By Abdullahi Inuwa
In a dramatic revelation that sheds new light on the escalating tensions in the Middle East, Reuters has reported that Ir@n issued a direct warning to the United States just hours before launching a retaliatory strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar.
According to the exclusive report, Ir@nian officials conveyed the alert through two diplomatic backchannels, signaling Tehran’s intention to strike — a move analysts say was aimed at avoiding American casualties and preventing full-scale war.
The carefully calculated communication, confirmed by multiple unnamed diplomatic sources, reportedly reached U.S. officials via intermediaries in Oman and Switzerland — both countries with a history of facilitating quiet dialogue between Washington and Tehran.
The missile barrage, which targeted infrastructure within the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, occurred shortly after the warning was sent. Although the attack caused structural damage, no fatalities or major injuries were reported, fueling speculation that Ir@n’s advance notice was part of a strategic effort to send a message without provoking direct U.S. retaliation.
“This was a signal, not a declaration of war,” said a senior intelligence analyst. “Ir@n wanted to respond forcefully to prior U.S. actions, but also wanted to control the escalation.”
The development comes in the wake of rising regional hostilities following U.S. strikes on Iranian-aligned targets and Iran’s vow to respond to perceived aggression. Tensions have intensified around the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq, and Syria — regions already on edge from earlier confrontations.
White House officials have yet to publicly confirm the diplomatic warnings, but sources say the Pentagon had already elevated alert levels hours before the attack, a sign they may have taken the communication seriously.
Meanwhile, Tehran’s foreign ministry neither denied nor confirmed the report but emphasized Ir@n’s “commitment to regional stability and proportional defense.”
This diplomatic maneuver adds a new layer to the complex chessboard of Middle Eastern geopolit
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