Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has threatened to target American military bases across the Middle East if US forces continue escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement published on its Sepah News website, the Guards warned that continued naval escorts could widen the conflict. “The US military must know that if this trend continues, the conflict will extend to its bases in the region,” the statement said. ReadDaily News
“This is a serious warning,” it added. The threat comes amid escalating tensions over access to the strategic waterway, which Iran claims to control. According to the report, US forces have increased the number of vessels they escort through the strait, while Iranian forces have intensified attacks on ships attempting to pass without Tehran’s approval.
Iranian forces earlier claimed that four ships were hit overnight while navigating the wider Gulf. The account provided no independent confirmation of those incidents. Washington has also maintained a naval blockade on Iranian ports in an effort to increase economic pressure, while negotiations to end the conflict remain stalled.
The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman and is approximately 30 kilometres wide at its narrowest point. Before the war began in February, about one-fifth of global oil supplies passed through the waterway, making it a critical route for energy exports from Gulf countries.