Iranian MP calls on Jordanians to seize US base
An Iranian MP urged Jordanians to seize a US airbase used to intercept Iranian missiles aimed at Israel.
An Iranian lawmaker has openly called on Jordanians to seize a US military base in their country, accusing Washington and Amman of shielding Israel during Iran's missile strikes in last year's 12-day war.
Mojtaba Zarei, a member of Iran's parliament and its Foreign Policy Commission, urged Jordanians to take control of the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, which is jointly used by the US Air Force and Jordan’s military.
In a post on X, Zarei said the base had played a direct role in intercepting Iranian missiles launched toward Israel during the 12-day war in June, describing it as a key outpost for US and Israeli military cooperation in the region.
He called on Jordanians to "prepare to overcome it and capture the American soldiers", framing the base as a legitimate target because of its role in protecting Israel and enforcing US military dominance in the region.
The remarks marked a sharp escalation in rhetoric, shifting from longstanding Iranian criticism of Jordan's coordination with the US and Israel to an explicit appeal for action against American forces stationed on Jordanian soil.
Jordan has previously intercepted Iranian drones and missiles over its airspace, including during Iran's response to an Israeli strike on its consulate in April 2024 and again during the June 2025 war, moves Tehran has denounced as active participation in Israel’s defence rather than neutral self-protection.
Since the middle of January, officials in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have warned they are ready for war, with General Mohammad Pakpour being quoted in January as saying that they "stand more ready than ever, finger on the trigger, to execute the orders and directives of the Commander-in-Chief."
Chief of Iran's military, Amir Hatami, warned on Saturday that Iran's armed forces were "at full defensive and military readiness".
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that US strikes in Iran would ignite a regional war.
Regional states have sought to find an off-ramp between the US and Iran for fear of being caught up in clashes, with negotiations set to be held in Oman on Friday between Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani was in Tehran for talks with Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani on Saturday, while Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman was in Washington on Friday to discuss the situation.
The UAE's Mohammed bin Zayed also postponed his first visit to Japan, the first for an Emirati leader to the country since 1990.