DUBAI — Iran on Tuesday threatened to disrupt oil and gas supplies in the region “for years” if the United States attacks the country’s civilian infrastructure. In a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it would retaliate beyond the region if what it called the “red lines” are crossed. “We will damage the infrastructure of America and its partners, which will deprive the United States and its allies of oil and gas in the region for years,” the IRGC threatened. The force said Iran has so far exercised restraint in its responses, citing considerations related to good neighborliness. “But all these considerations may now be canceled,” it added. The statement stressed that Iran has not initiated attacks on civilian targets but would respond to attacks on its own civilian infrastructure. The warning came after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb power stations and bridges across Iran if Tehran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reach an agreement by Tuesday night at 8 pm EDT (0000GMT Wednesday). Meanwhile, air strikes have been reported on multiple railway lines across Iran on Tuesday, following a warning from Israel ordering Iranians not to use trains and to stay away from the country’s railways for 12 hours. Infrastructure across the country has been attacked by the US and Israel in recent hours, according to Iranian state media reports. Two people were killed after an attack on a railway bridge in the city of Kashan, the semi-official Mehr News Agency reported. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported an airstrike on a railway line in Karaj, posting video of workers treating an injured person at the scene. Ground transport bridges in western Qom Province were targeted by projectiles, the deputy provincial governor said, according to the state-run news organization Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). A section of the Tabriz–Tehran freeway was struck by projectiles, IRIB also reported, citing East Azerbaijan Province’s general directorate of crisis management. A road in the city of Ahvaz was struck by the US and Israel, Khuzestan Province’s deputy for security and law enforcement said, according to IRIB. Another freeway between Tabriz and Zanjan was closed because of the ongoing attacks, IRNAreported. The Qareh Chaman-Mianeh road has been closed in both directions because of projectile impacts, IRNA also said. Other civilian facilities, including residential and commercial areas, have also been targeted in the attacks, according to Iranian outlets. The US struck military targets on Kharg Island overnight, according to a White House official. The strikes did not target oil facilities, according to the US official. The US previously targeted Kharg Island on March 13. US Central Command said at the time that 90 targets had been hit, including “naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and multiple other military sites.” — AgenciesDUBAI — Iran on Tuesday threatened to disrupt oil and gas supplies in the region “for years” if the United States attacks the country’s civilian infrastructure. In a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it would retaliate beyond the region if what it called the “red lines” are crossed. “We will damage the infrastructure of America and its partners, which will deprive the United States and its allies of oil and gas in the region for years,” the IRGC threatened. The force said Iran has so far exercised restraint in its responses, citing considerations related to good neighborliness. “But all these considerations may now be canceled,” it added. The statement stressed that Iran has not initiated attacks on civilian targets but would respond to attacks on its own civilian infrastructure. The warning came after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb power stations and bridges across Iran if Tehran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reach an agreement by Tuesday night at 8 pm EDT (0000GMT Wednesday). Meanwhile, air strikes have been reported on multiple railway lines across Iran on Tuesday, following a warning from Israel ordering Iranians not to use trains and to stay away from the country’s railways for 12 hours. Infrastructure across the country has been attacked by the US and Israel in recent hours, according to Iranian state media reports. Two people were killed after an attack on a railway bridge in the city of Kashan, the semi-official Mehr News Agency reported. The Iranian Red Crescent Society reported an airstrike on a railway line in Karaj, posting video of workers treating an injured person at the scene. Ground transport bridges in western Qom Province were targeted by projectiles, the deputy provincial governor said, according to the state-run news organization Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). A section of the Tabriz–Tehran freeway was struck by projectiles, IRIB also reported, citing East Azerbaijan Province’s general directorate of crisis management. A road in the city of Ahvaz was struck by the US and Israel, Khuzestan Province’s deputy for security and law enforcement said, according to IRIB. Another freeway between Tabriz and Zanjan was closed because of the ongoing attacks, IRNAreported. The Qareh Chaman-Mianeh road has been closed in both directions because of projectile impacts, IRNA also said. Other civilian facilities, including residential and commercial areas, have also been targeted in the attacks, according to Iranian outlets. The US struck military targets on Kharg Island overnight, according to a White House official. The strikes did not target oil facilities, according to the US official. The US previously targeted Kharg Island on March 13. US Central Command said at the time that 90 targets had been hit, including “naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and multiple other military sites.” — Agencies
