Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz an inviolable 'red line' and threatened to strike regional infrastructure if attacked by the U.S. The IRGC also claimed control of the Strait of Hormuz, vowing no oil or gas exports would pass if U.S. attacks continued.
Escalating tensions between Iran and the U.S. threaten critical global shipping lanes, potentially disrupting oil and gas supplies and impacting regional stability.
Iran has declared the Strait of Hormuz an "inviolable red line," warning that any U.S. strike on its infrastructure would trigger widespread regional destruction. Iranian armed forces spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari stated that if U.S. threats to target Iranian infrastructure are carried out, "all infrastructure across the region that has so far remained intact solely because of Iran’s restraint will be crushed under the strikes of Iran’s armed forces." He added that Iran's response would be "more severe, more extensive, and more devastating than ever before."
The spokesperson also said the situation in the Strait of Hormuz "will never return to what it was before the 40-day war," accusing Washington of destabilizing security in the critical transit corridor. Iran has asked countries in the Gulf "not to allow America to use their territories to attack us."
The warning comes amid ongoing exchanges of strikes between the two nations. The IRGC claimed to have launched ballistic missiles against a U.S. military base in Jordan. The U.S. military stated it completed overnight strikes targeting Iranian command centers, air defense systems, and missile and drone capabilities.
Multiple reports suggest Iran has asked the Houthi rebels in Yemen to be prepared to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another critical global shipping chokepoint, if the U.S. strikes Iranian infrastructure.