Preparing the ground for escalation? Senior Iranians return to threatening on social media

Senior Iranian officials, including parliament member and Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, have resumed threatening Gulf states on social media. Qalibaf called for establishing a new regional security order independent of the US, claiming Washington's policies have undermined the security of its allies in the region. According to him, "The United States has put the security of each and every one of its allies at such risk, through bullying and complete disregard for their interests for the sake of Israel, that at times they saw their very existence hanging in the balance." Meanwhile, reports indicate a resumption of ship attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and an expansion of fighting to the Red Sea. The Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by intelligence, weapons, and guidance from the Revolutionary Guards, declared the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi Arabia and began attacking its forces. Arab intelligence intercepted communications indicating close coordination between the Revolutionary Guards and pro-Iranian militias. The article also mentions an Israeli strike on a gas processing facility in the South Pars field in June 2025, which caused a temporary halt to part of its operations.