Iran has destroyed a key US radar system used to direct missile defence batteries in the Gulf, potentially weakening Washington’s ability to counter further attacks in the region, Bloomberg reported on Friday, citing a U.S. official.
The radar, valued at about $300 million, supported the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), which is designed to intercept ballistic missiles near the edge of the atmosphere. Satellite imagery earlier reviewed by CNN showed radar and support equipment linked to the system destroyed at an air base in Jordan in the early days of the conflict.
Fighting in the region escalated after Israel and the United States launched a joint military operation on February 28 aimed at degrading the capabilities of the Iranian government. Iran retaliated with strikes on Israeli territory and U.S. military bases in the region, and by targeting ships and cities in Gulf states.
Amid the escalating conflict, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington would not pursue a deal with Tehran unless it agreed to “unconditional surrender”. In a social media post, Trump said the United States and its allies would help rebuild Iran after such a surrender and spoke of “making Iran great again”.
Trump also told Reuters that Washington would have to be involved in choosing Iran’s next leader following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the February 28 attacks.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, condemned the remarks, saying they violated the principle of non-interference in sovereign states. He said Iran would choose its leadership according to constitutional procedures without foreign involvement.
Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps challenged the United States to send naval vessels to escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz after Tehran warned that ships attempting to pass through the chokepoint could be targeted. About 20% of global petroleum consumption moves through the narrow waterway linking the Gulf to the Arabian Sea.