Islamic radicals back during the presidency of Jimmy Carter stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran, took dozens of American staffers, diplomats and CIA officers hostage and held them until President Ronald Reagan was inaugurated more than a year later.
Now it appears there’s one prominent leader there who wants to do essentially the same thing all over.
“I assume that occupying an American base and seizing 200 prisoners would completely disarm the U.S. and prevent it from pursuing this war,” contemplated Manouchehr Mottaki, the former Iranian foreign minister and currently a member of the nation’s parliament, called the majles.
His comments came in an interview with IRINN TV in Iran, and were documented by the Middle East Media Research Institute.
Former Iranian FM Manouchehr Mottaki: Iran Should Occupy U.S. Bases and Take 200 American Hostages; We Should Strike Ukraine’s Military Arsenal and Zelensky’s Residence If It Continues to Supply UAVs to the Region; Jordan and Six Gulf Countries Should Be Declared Hostile States… pic.twitter.com/XqhPH7h5by
— MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) July 20, 2026
The organization reported Mottaki suggested Jordan and six other Gulf states should be declared, by Iran, to be hostile countries and that the entire territory of those nations then should be considered legitimate targets for Iran.
Just like, the report said, the American military bases that are found there.
“He argued that because attacks against Iran were launched from those countries, they had become complicit in the ‘martyrdom’ of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and thousands of Iranians,” MEMRI reported.
His comments included: “I call on officials to declare Jordan and six Gulf countries hostile states.”
He explained, “This would make all the territory of these seven countries become legitimate targets for us — like the U.S. bases are — because attacks against us are launched from their land and airspace, making them complicit in the martyrdom of our Leader and thousands of our people.”
“[The Americans] have talked about a ground operation, but we have ground operational capabilities that they lack. This means that we can go and take over an American base, which are easily within our reach in Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain,” he suggested. “In addition to our forces preparing military capabilities for this operation, there will be local supporters of these actions in those places. Large masses of people in Iraq will gather to support the seizing of American bases, both in Iraq and in Kuwait.”
U.S. Sailors aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) monitor operations in the ship’s Combat Information Center while transiting the Arabian Sea, as American forces enforce the naval blockade against Iran. To ensure full blockade compliance, CENTCOM has… pic.twitter.com/zttL7x8T3u
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 22, 2026
He then referenced his assumption that “seizing 200 prisoners would completely disarm the U.S. and prevent it from pursuing this war.”
He also turned his hate on Ukraine, claiming, “Ukraine is also becoming involved in this war against us, by deploying UAVs. They sent a shipment of UAVs to the UAE, which our forces struck during the 40-Day War. At that time, I said that it was a pity that we did not target [Ukraine President Volodymyr] Zelensky, while he was visiting the UAE. Now, we must send Ukraine a clear message: If you supply additional UAVs to these countries or to America, our military arsenal and your [president’s] residence will become legitimate targets. We are capable of striking them.”
The original Iranian assault on Americas happened because of resentment there to the exiled Shah of Iran, who was allowed to enter the U.S. for cancer treatment and later died.
It was November 4, 1979 that the “Musim Student Followers of the Imam’s Line,” with support from Ruhollah Khomeini, stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took 66 people hostage. While a handful were released shortly later, 52 were in custody until Reagan was inaugurated.
The assault on Americans has left behind over the years a deep mistrust of Iranian actions and intentions.
