Iranian News Agency Shares Images of US Military Bases Amid Tensions

A prominent Iranian news agency has posted images of US military bases in the Middle East in recent days, raising concerns as tensions remain high between Tehran and Washington. The posts, shared on X, carried no comment and only the day and date according to the Persian calendar. Fars News Agency shared the photos over two consecutive days, with one post on Tuesday and the second on Wednesday. So far, the outlet has made two posts containing US base images, without any accompanying commentary. Each post included links to external sources: one linked to Wikimedia, showing Shaikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, while the other showed Al Dhafra Air Base outside Abu Dhabi, with a reference link from FlightSim. The images come amid the prospect of direct talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoy Steve Witkoff, expected later this week but not confirmed. They follow repeated threats by Iranian officials of retaliation if the United States attacks, pointing to American bases in the Gulf as potential targets. The posts have caused concern in Paris, where French troops are stationed at Al Dhafra. President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that France was “very vigilant" and had taken all necessary measures to ensure its soldiers’ security. The images coincided with a US fighter jet shooting down an Iranian drone that approached the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, deployed to the Middle East last month as Washington increases pressure on Tehran. Despite this, tensions remain high. In Tehran, a new billboard showed American planes crashed into a hillside, with Iranians flying the Islamic Republic’s flag above. (With inputs from AFP)