'Iranian missiles can easily reach US ships in Gulf'

Tehran-Washington tensions have escalated with increasing concern about potential conflict

DUBAI: A deputy head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards said even short-range Iranian missiles could reach US warships in the Gulf, adding that the United States could not afford a new war, the semi-official news agency Fars reported on Friday.

Iran-US tensions have escalated, with increasing concern about a potential conflict as Washington has ratcheted up sanctions and political pressure on Tehran and built up the US military presence in the region.

"Even our short-range missiles can easily reach (US) warships in the Gulf," Mohammad Saleh Jokar, the Guard's deputy for parliamentary affairs, was quoted by Fars as saying.