Iran Issues Fresh Threat To Bahrain And UAE Hotels, Says Sheltering US Soldiers May Invite Direct Strikes

Iran has issued a sharp warning to hotel owners in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, saying any property sheltering US military personnel could be treated as a legitimate military target, according to a report by the semi-official Fars news agency. The warning comes as tensions continue to spiral across West Asia following the latest round of direct military confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

Iran Threatens Hotels Hosting US Military Personnel

According to the Fars report, Iranian authorities have delivered what it described as an "ultimatum" to hotels in Gulf countries, cautioning that hosting American troops would expose those properties to possible attack. The report said the warning applies to any civilian facility accommodating foreign military personnel and would take immediate effect if such arrangements continue.

The report, cited by Xinhua, claimed that US forces have moved into regional hotels after Iranian missile strikes and coordinated operations with allied militant groups targeted American military infrastructure across the Middle East.

Claims Of US Presence At Civilian Sites Across The Region

Fars further alleged that American military personnel have shifted into multiple civilian locations across the region. These reportedly include a logistics base near Beirut's old airport, along with advisory operations based at Damascus' Republic Palace, the Four Seasons and Sheraton hotels.

The report also claimed that US Marines were transferred earlier this week to Djibouti International Airport through transit routes involving Istanbul and Sofia.

These claims have added to Iran's accusation that Washington is moving troops away from traditional military installations and placing them in civilian areas, which Tehran says raises the risk to local populations.

Araghchi Accuses US Troops Of Using Civilians As Cover

Earlier on Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi publicly warned hotels in Gulf Arab states against accommodating US military personnel. In a post on X, he accused American soldiers of abandoning military bases and relocating to civilian premises.

"From the outset of this war, US soldiers fled military bases in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) to hide in hotels and offices. They use GCC citizens as human shields," Araghchi wrote on the social media platform X.

He also drew a comparison with hotel practices in the United States, arguing that hotels there would refuse bookings to officers if their presence endangered guests. Araghchi urged hotels in Gulf countries to take a similar approach and deny accommodation to US military personnel.

Conflict Deepens After Joint US-Israel Strikes On Iran

The latest warning comes against the backdrop of an intensified conflict that sharply escalated on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched joint strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities.

According to the report, the attacks killed Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US bases in the region.

Tehran also moved to tighten control over the Strait of Hormuz, reportedly blocking vessels linked to Israel and the United States, further heightening fears of a wider regional and economic fallout.

As the confrontation broadens, Iran's latest warning to hotels in Bahrain and the UAE signals that civilian infrastructure across the Gulf could increasingly be drawn into the conflict if military personnel continue using non-military sites.