Araghchi welcomes US navy secretary’s Bahrain damage remarks

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has said Iran appreciated Hung Cao, acting US navy secretary, for publicly admitting that Iranian attacks on a key US naval base in Bahrain had caused extensive damage during the war. Cao, who is US president Donald Trump’s pick, had reportedly said that Iranians “blew the hell out of” the US base in Bahrain. In a post on X, Araghchi wrote: “Our powerful Armed Forces did indeed ‘blow the hell out of the 5th Fleet HQ in Bahrain’, as well as other bases supporting U.S. aggression. The American people deserve better than footing the bill for Israel’s wars.” We appreciate the candor of Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao. Our powerful Armed Forces did indeed “blow the hell out of the 5th Fleet HQ in Bahrain,” as well as other bases supporting U.S. aggression. The American people deserve better than footing the bill for Israel’s wars. pic.twitter.com/notnk7hWUK — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) September 11, 2026