Tehran: According to state media tensions, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have deployed new missile systems on three strategic islands near the Strait of Hormuz, a major global transport route, saying they can target enemy bases and ships as tensions with the United States continue to increase.

These weapons are deployed on larger tunnels, smaller Tunbs and Abu Musa, which are the most important transport lanes around the world near the Hormuz Strait.

The guards recently conducted military exercises in the area.

The announcement on Saturday comes as Iran prepares to respond to a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump urges the resumption of nuclear talks and warns that military action may be taken if Iran refuses.

“We have a strategy that must arm the “island” and make it work,” said Alireza Tangsiri, naval commander of Iran’s military ideological branch.

“We have the ability to attack enemy bases, ships and assets in the area,” he told state television.

The new system “can completely destroy any target within 600 kilometers (370 miles).”

On Friday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the U.S. threat to Iran “will be nowhere to go”, warning that “if they cause any malice to the Iranian nation, they will get a slap”.

Foreign Secretary Abbas Araghchi described Trump’s letter as “more threats” on Thursday, but said it seemed to offer an opportunity, noting that Tehran would respond in the coming days.

In a speech aired on Friday, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said Trump is trying to get rid of the armed conflict with Iran by building trust with Tehran.

He said the president’s letter was not intended as a threat.

Iran has controlled three Gulf Islands since 1971, despite their sovereignty being controversial with the United Arab Emirates for decades.

In September, Tangsiri said Iran was “expanding” its defense capabilities on the island.