Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it targeted four oil-carrying vessels in the Arabian Gulf and warns of a wider response against US bases if tensions escalate. US President Donald Trump says Washington is not negotiating with Tehran.
TEHRAN — WEB DESK: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said on Thursday that it had targeted four vessels involved in oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf, warning that continued US actions could trigger a wider response against American bases in the region.
The IRGC said the four vessels were transferring oil between ships and had been targeted simultaneously after allegedly travelling along unauthorised routes. It claimed fires were still burning aboard the targeted vessels.
The Iranian force also reported that three other vessels had struck naval mines west of the Strait of Hormuz, bringing the total number of vessels involved in the reported incidents to seven.
Iran warns of wider response against US bases
The IRGC accused Washington of encouraging vessels to cross maritime passages it said were planted with mines. It warned that continued US actions could expand Iran’s response to American military bases elsewhere in the region.
The allegations and threats come amid heightened tensions over maritime traffic and the US naval blockade affecting Iran. Independent confirmation of the circumstances surrounding each reported vessel incident remains important.
Trump says US is not negotiating with Iran
US President Donald Trump said Washington was not negotiating with Tehran and predicted that developments in the conflict would occur “fairly soon.”
Trump made the remarks to reporters after returning from a rally in South Carolina, according to The Express Tribune and Anadolu Agency. He also said the United States could end the war but wanted to ensure that any outcome would last.
Why the Strait of Hormuz matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical international shipping route connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Arabian Sea. Disruptions in the area can affect oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, shipping insurance costs and international energy markets.
Further escalation could place additional pressure on commercial shipping and raise concerns among countries dependent on Gulf energy supplies.
For Pakistan and other energy-importing economies, prolonged disruption could increase import costs and complicate energy planning.
