Iran has threatened to block additional regional trade routes after the United States launched a fresh round of military strikes targeting Iranian positions, further escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The latest warning came from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, who declared that the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States ends its “acts of aggression.” The Guards also warned that other oil and gas export routes serving US interests and those of its allies could become targets.
The renewed threats followed a new wave of American military operations. The US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that its forces carried out coordinated drone, air and naval strikes on Iranian military targets on Wednesday morning, just hours after completing another seven-hour operation overnight.
The latest exchange of attacks has once again highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping corridor through which a significant share of the world’s oil exports passes.
The fresh confrontation has also sent oil prices higher, with tanker movement through the Strait slowing significantly as security concerns mount.
According to Centcom, Wednesday’s operation was aimed at “further degraded Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.”
US officials said the 90-minute assault targeted Iran’s coastal defence systems as well as cruise missile launch and storage facilities located on Greater Tunb Island.
The military escalation comes after US President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that Washington would expand its campaign if Iran refuses to resume negotiations.
“I’ll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we’ll hit energy targets,” Trump said in an interview on Special Report with Bret Baier that aired Tuesday night.
The remarks followed Trump’s announcement that he was abandoning his proposed 20% toll on vessels using the Strait of Hormuz, saying it would instead be replaced by “massive” trade and investment agreements with Gulf nations.
Trump had previously faced criticism over threats to target Iran’s civilian infrastructure. Following similar comments in April, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned: “Under international law, deliberately attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime.”
The renewed military campaign also coincides with the restoration of a US naval blockade on Iranian ports, which took effect on Tuesday evening. The measure prevents vessels from entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal waters.
The blockade had been suspended under a memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran last month, which was intended to reduce hostilities after months of conflict.
However, disagreements over the Strait of Hormuz have emerged as one of the biggest obstacles to sustaining that agreement.
Reacting to the renewed blockade, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that the US should “expect the closure of other oil and gas export routes that serve the interests of the United States and its allies.”
The IRGC did not specify which additional routes could be affected.
Meanwhile, Iran’s state-run broadcaster reported that Iranian forces carried out separate attacks on US targets in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Authorities in the three US-allied countries confirmed intercepting drones and missiles launched from Iran before they reached their intended targets.
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