Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has publicly responded to remarks made by Hung Cao, the nominee for U.S. Navy Secretary, regarding the status of a U.S. naval base in Bahrain. Cao reportedly stated that Iranian forces had "blew the hell out of" the base, a comment that Araghchi highlighted on social media to validate the effectiveness of Iran's military actions.

In his response, Araghchi expressed appreciation for Cao’s public acknowledgment of the damage. He further asserted that Iran’s armed forces had indeed targeted the 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, as well as other regional installations. The exchange has drawn attention due to the unusual nature of a foreign official citing a U.S. nominee’s rhetoric to bolster domestic military claims.

While both the Washington Examiner and Middle East Eye report the core exchange, they differ in their characterization of the event. The Washington Examiner frames the incident as a "shocking admission" by a U.S. official, emphasizing the controversy of the statement. Middle East Eye presents the event more as a diplomatic development, focusing on Araghchi’s reaction to the public statement. There is no independent verification provided in either report regarding the specific extent of the damage mentioned by Cao, nor is there context provided on whether these remarks were made in an official capacity or during a private or campaign-related setting.