Iran warns US of Hormuz ‘red line’ as Trump threatens infrastructure strikes

Iran has issued a stark warning to the United States regarding a ‘red line’ at the Strait of Hormuz, stating it will retaliate against strike threats made by President Donald Trump. This declaration comes as diplomatic negotiations effectively stall on the sixth day of renewed military hostilities between the two nations.

President Trump has warned that the US will target Iranian infrastructure the following week if negotiations do not resume. The conditional threat underscores the escalating military pressure Washington is applying to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table, with the window for diplomacy narrowing significantly.

The current conflict follows a six-hour wave of strikes conducted by the US military across Iran, targeting command centres, air defence sites, and coastal surveillance facilities. US Central Command reported significant impacts on Bandar Abbas, home to Iran’s largest port and key naval installations on the Strait of Hormuz, marking a significant escalation in the scope of the US offensive.

In response to the US strikes, Iran has launched retaliatory suicide drone attacks on US military bases in neighbouring Gulf states. Tehran has previously threatened to target vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint, following earlier US actions, including a 90-minute daytime assault authorised by President Trump.

The situation remains volatile as both sides continue to exchange military actions while diplomatic channels remain closed. The specific nature of the ‘red line’ at the Strait of Hormuz has not been detailed, nor have the exact infrastructure targets in Iran been specified, leaving market participants and observers monitoring the developing situation closely.