Iran has threatened to block other trade routes in the region, as the United States launched a new wave of strikes against military targets.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States stops its “acts of aggression” and said other regional oil and gas export channels could also be closed.
This warning comes as the US military’s Central Command (Centcom) announced that it had carried out drone, air and naval strikes on Iran on Wednesday morning, in addition to a seven-hour operation carried out overnight.
US President Donald Trump has vowed to strike Iran’s bridges and power plants next week if the country does not return to negotiations.
“I’ll save the energy goals for last, but ultimately we’ll meet the energy goals,” Trump said in an interview on Special Report with Bret Baier that aired Tuesday night.
The rhetorical escalation comes after Trump said the 20% toll he had threatened to impose on the Strait of Hormuz would be replaced by “massive” trade and investment deals with Gulf states.
A new US blockade on Iranian ports was imposed Tuesday evening, preventing ships from transiting to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas.
In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned the United States that it should “expect the closure of other oil and gas export routes that serve the interests of the United States and its allies.” He did not specify which roads might be affected.
Separately, Iranian state television reported that the Iranian military carried out separate attacks against U.S. targets in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.
US allies also said they had intercepted drones and missiles launched from Iran.
