Iran Warns More Oil and Trade Routes Could Be Closed After US Attacks
Iran has threatened to shut down more regional trade routes after the United States carried out a fresh wave of military strikes on Iranian targets.
The country’s Revolutionary Guards said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the US ends its “acts of aggression,” warning that other major oil and gas export routes across the region could also be blocked.
The warning came after the US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed it launched coordinated drone, air and naval strikes on Iranian military positions early Wednesday, following another seven-hour operation overnight.
The latest escalation between Washington and Tehran has once again highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that plays a key role in the global economy.
The renewed conflict has also driven oil prices higher, with tanker traffic through the crucial waterway slowing dramatically as security concerns continue to grow.
In a statement, Centcom said Wednesday’s operation “further degraded Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.” US officials added that a 90-minute assault targeted Iran’s coastal defence systems, along with cruise missile storage and launch facilities on Greater Tunb Island.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned that American forces could target Iran’s bridges and power plants next week if Tehran refuses to return to negotiations.
Speaking during an interview on Special Report with Bret Baier, Trump said, “I’ll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we’ll hit energy targets.”
Trump’s latest comments came after he suggested that the proposed 20% toll on ships using the Strait of Hormuz could instead be replaced with “massive” trade and investment deals involving Gulf states.
Earlier this year, Trump also threatened to strike Iran’s civilian infrastructure, drawing criticism from UN human rights chief Volker Türk. At the time, Türk warned: “Under international law, deliberately attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime.”
