Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a formal threat on Saturday, warning that it would target U.S. facilities across the Middle East if its tankers are subjected to further military action. The statement, reported by France 24, follows U.S. military strikes conducted on Friday against two Iranian tankers operating in the Gulf of Oman.
In a direct warning, the Revolutionary Guards stated, "Any attack on Iranian tankers and commercial vessels will result in a heavy attack on one of the American centres in the region and enemy ships." This escalation occurs as Washington awaits a formal response from Tehran regarding a pending peace proposal.
President Donald Trump indicated on Friday that he anticipated a decision from Iranian leadership regarding the negotiating position "supposedly tonight." The current standoff has significantly heightened concerns regarding maritime security and the stability of critical shipping lanes.
Simultaneously, the Iranian military has moved to tighten control over the Strait of Hormuz. Mohammad Akraminia, a spokesperson for the Iranian Army, told the semi-official Tasnim news agency that vessels from nations complying with U.S. sanctions will face "difficulties" when attempting to transit the strategic waterway.
Legislators in Tehran are currently drafting a bill to formalize the country's management of the Strait. Proposed clauses in the legislation include granting the military the authority to forbid passage to vessels belonging to "hostile states."
Regional security remains volatile, as evidenced by a separate incident reported by the British military. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre confirmed that a bulk carrier was struck by an unknown projectile 23 nautical miles northeast of Doha, Qatar. While the strike caused a fire on board, the crew successfully extinguished the blaze, and no casualties were reported.
