Iran bars US warships from Gulf waters amid rising tensions

Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Ali Abdollahi, announced Saturday that Iran will not allow US warships to enter Gulf waters "under any circumstances," amid rising tensions with Washington and Israel over potential military strikes. The statement, carried by Iranian state television, comes as diplomatic efforts stall. President Donald Trump has expressed readiness to strike Iran again, though he previously said this would not occur before the November 3 midterm elections. US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack said Friday he could not rule out a US strike on Iran this weekend. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly threatened to topple Iran's government, with the Financial Times reporting he ordered the military to plan renewed strikes, though Trump opposed the idea. Abdollahi said Trump "sees in his dreams the return of American soldiers to the Persian Gulf," adding "they will carry this dream with them to the grave forever."