“EXPEL THEM OR FACE DESTRUCTION”: Iran Issues Final Ultimatum to Gulf States
TEHRAN / RIYADH — A spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces delivered a blunt and menacing ultimatum on Friday morning, March 27, 2026, demanding that Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations immediately expel U.S. forces from their territories. The warning, broadcast across state-affiliated media, stated that any country hosting “American aggressors” would be held directly responsible for strikes launched from their soil and warned of “unprecedented levels of damage” to regional infrastructure.
The threat comes as the Friday sunrise deadline passes, and just hours after Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused U.S. troops of “fleeing” their bases to hide in civilian hotels and office buildings.
The “Expulsion” Decree
The Iranian military command characterized the presence of U.S. troops in the Gulf not as a defensive measure, but as a “colonial occupation” that endangers the lives of all regional citizens.
- “Legitimate Targets”: The spokesperson reiterated that every U.S. “hideout”—whether a formal base, a civilian hotel, or a rented office—is a legitimate target for Iran’s missile and drone arrays.
- The Sovereignty Ultimatum: “The time for neutrality has ended,” the spokesperson stated. “Gulf states must choose: align with the regional resistance and expel the foreign invaders, or face the consequences of being a launchpad for Zionist-American crimes.”
- Threat to Vital Hubs: The military warned that if the U.S. uses regional facilities for its promised “Final Blow” operation, Iran will retaliate by targeting desalination plants, power grids, and “every remaining oil refinery” in the host countries.
The “Existential” Response from the GCC
The Gulf states, which have seen nearly 400 ballistic missiles and 1,800 drones launched at their territories since February 28, have officially classified these threats as an “existential challenge.”
| Country | Recent Defensive Action (March 26–27) | Diplomatic Stance |
| UAE | Intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 11 UAVs in the last 24 hours. | “Will not be blackmailed by terrorists.” |
| Saudi Arabia | Relocated air defense assets to protect the King Fahd Air Base near the Red Sea. | Expelled Iran’s military attache; closed ranks with the U.S. |
| Kuwait | Investigating “loud explosions” near its northern border; partial power outages reported. | Urged Iraq to halt militia launches from its territory. |
| Bahrain | Hosted UK deployment of short-range air defense systems to protect civilian hubs. | Retains the “legal right to respond” under UN Article 51. |
“Hotel Warfare” and Civilian Risk
The military spokesperson’s threat specifically focused on the recent dispersal of U.S. personnel into urban areas.
- Urban Targeting: By ordering the expulsion of U.S. forces “wherever they are found,” Tehran is effectively warning that luxury hotels in Doha, Manama, and Dubai are no longer off-limits.
- Human Shield Accusation: Echoing Araghchi, the military claimed the U.S. is “using Arab brothers as shields,” a narrative intended to spark domestic unrest within GCC nations against their own governments’ security alliances.
- The “Islamabad Channel”: Despite the fire-breathing rhetoric, some analysts believe this threat is a “negotiation tactic” designed to force the GCC to pressure President Trump into a more favorable ceasefire deal.
What’s Next?
With the Friday sunrise now passed in the Gulf, the region is on “Red Alert.” If the GCC states do not comply with the expulsion demand—which is a near-certainty given their current reliance on U.S. air defense—the Iranian “million-man force” and missile command may initiate a massive coordinated strike to coincide with the end of President Trump’s 10-day “Energy Plant” pause on April 6.