In a post on his X account on Wednesday, Qalibaf issued a grave warning regarding a potential operation to occupy one of Iran's strategic islands, saying external adversaries are collaborating with a nearby nation to implement their hostile agenda.

“Enemies of Iran, with the support of one of the countries in the region, are preparing for an operation to occupy one of the Iranian islands,” he said.

“If they take even a single step, all the vital infrastructure of that regional country will become an unrestricted target for attack,” Qalibaf warned.

The US and the Israeli regime launched a large-scale unprovoked military campaign against Iran following the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, along with several senior military commanders and civilians on February 28.

The attacks have involved extensive aerial strikes on both military and civilian locations across Iran, causing significant casualties and widespread damage to infrastructure.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces have carried out retaliatory operations, targeting American and Israeli positions in the occupied territories and at regional bases with waves of missiles and drones.