Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Nov 13: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Friday claimed that it had targeted a US early-warning radar system in Bahrain, marking the first such claim of an attack on American military assets in a Gulf country since early September.

The IRGC said the strike was carried out in retaliation for an alleged air attack on a telecommunications tower in Sirik county, in Iran's southern Hormozgan province, according to Iranian state media.

The claim comes amid a fragile lull in the conflict between Iran and the United States, which began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and subsequently spread across the region.

Iran had launched missile and drone attacks on US military bases in Gulf countries and attempted to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil and gas supplies. In response, Washington imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

There was no immediate response from the United States or Bahrain regarding the IRGC's claim.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that Washington could resume military strikes against Iran without hesitation.

In an interview with Salem News Channel, Trump was asked whether he would hesitate to use military force to prevent Iran from threatening US allies and American vessels.

"No, without hesitation," he replied.

Trump also claimed that the Iranian regime was on the verge of collapse, alleging that inflation had reached 301 per cent, the country's economy had been devastated and its military capabilities had been severely weakened.