Tehran escalates maritime rhetoric as IRGC warns of strikes on US regional sites
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has issued a direct threat to target American installations in the Middle East if Iranian tankers are attacked, following recent US strikes in the Gulf of Oman.
Iranian media have reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has threatened to launch heavy attacks against US sites in the region and enemy ships if Iranian tankers or commercial vessels come under fire. This warning follows United States strikes on two Iranian tankers in the Gulf of Oman earlier in the week, marking a significant escalation in maritime tensions.
The threat comes as Washington waits for Tehran's response to a latest proposal for a peace deal. Iranian officials stated that vessels complying with US sanctions would face difficulties crossing the Strait of Hormuz. Concurrently, Iranian lawmakers are drafting a bill to formalise the country's management of the strait, including clauses designed to forbid passage to vessels of hostile states.
Separately, a British military report confirmed that a ship caught fire after being hit by an unknown projectile off the coast of Qatar. The incident occurred 23 nautical miles northeast of Doha, where the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre noted the attack caused a small fire on the bulk carrier that was subsequently extinguished. No casualties were reported in connection with the incident.
Satellite imagery reportedly shows an oil slick spreading off the coast of Iran's Kharg Island, a key hub for the Islamic republic's oil exports. This development adds to the volatility surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy trade that remains under the scrutiny of both regional powers and international observers.
In related regional violence, Israel's military has ordered evacuations in southern Lebanon ahead of expected attacks on Hezbollah. A Lebanese health ministry reported at least seven deaths from an Israeli strike on the town of Saksakiyeh during a ceasefire, raising concerns about the stability of the current truce intended to halt fighting between the two sides.
The Iranian Army Spokesperson, Mohammad Akraminia, citing the semi-official Tasnim news agency, reiterated that sanctioned vessels would face difficulties transiting the strait. These statements underscore the deepening institutional friction between Tehran and Washington, with both sides appearing to prepare for further confrontation in the Middle East.
