Iran's Parliament Speaker Accuses US and Israel of Island Occupation Plans

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the United States and Israel of plotting to occupy an Iranian island, alleging that a regional state is collaborating in the plan, in remarks that threaten to escalate tensions across the already volatile Middle East.

Ghalibaf made the explosive allegation during a parliamentary session in Tehran on Tuesday, claiming that intelligence reports pointed to a coordinated scheme involving Washington and Tel Aviv with the support of an unnamed country in the region. He did not identify the specific island or the alleged regional collaborator, but warned that any such move would be met with a decisive response from Iran's armed forces.

"The enemies of Iran should know that any attempt to encroach upon our territorial integrity will be confronted with the full force of our military capabilities," Ghalibaf was quoted as saying by Iranian state media. "We have intelligence indicating that the United States and the Zionist regime, in coordination with a regional government, are planning to seize one of our islands."

The accusation comes at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, with Washington maintaining a significant naval presence in the Persian Gulf and the wider Arabian Sea. The strategic waterways of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes, have long been a flashpoint between Tehran and Western powers.

Iran controls several islands in the Persian Gulf, including Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, whose sovereignty has been disputed by the United Arab Emirates since Iran took control of them in 1971. Tehran has repeatedly stated that the islands are an inseparable part of Iranian territory and has reinforced its military installations on them over the years.

Regional analysts noted that such accusations from senior Iranian officials often serve domestic political purposes while also functioning as a warning to regional and international actors. The timing of the statement, amid ongoing negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme and shifting geopolitical alignments in the Gulf, adds a layer of complexity to the claim.

Qatar, which maintains diplomatic channels with both Iran and Western powers, has consistently advocated for dialogue as the primary mechanism for resolving disputes in the Persian Gulf. Doha has previously stressed the importance of de-escalation and has called on all parties to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in the region.

Neither the United States nor Israel immediately responded to Ghalibaf's allegations. The Pentagon and the Israeli foreign ministry had not issued statements on the matter at the time of publication.

The accusation is likely to intensify the war of words between Tehran and Washington at a moment when diplomatic efforts to stabilise the region remain fragile, and any miscalculation risks drawing the Gulf's energy-exporting nations into a broader confrontation.