TEHRAN — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to strike American bases across the Middle East if the US military continues to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.“The US military must know that if this trend continues, the conflict will extend to its bases in the region,” the Guards said in a statement on their Sepah News website.Iran claims control over Hormuz, a strategic shipping route through which one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies passed before war broke out in February.It regularly attacks ships that attempt to navigate the strait without its authorization.But the US military has been escorting vessels through the waterway in increasing numbers, with Iran responding by stepping up attacks.The IRGC said it tracked four ships that had previously used what Tehran calls an “illegal” route and struck them simultaneously while they were transferring oil cargo from ship to ship in the northern-central Gulf, adding that “fires were still burning on the targeted ships.”Three other vessels hit mines west of the Strait of Hormuz overnight, caught fire and were halted, the IRGC claimed. “The insistence of the arrogant US regime on inciting vessels to pass through the illegal mined passage has increased maritime incidents day by day,” it said.”The US has valuable assets in the region. In case of war, cables, data centers and AI facilities could also come within range. If the conflict starts again, we will have a broader plan,” Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said, according to Iran’s Tasnim.”The Strait of Hormuz is under Iran’s control and we manage it,” Rezaei said.”Over the past two or three months, we have targeted on average 5 vessels belonging to these smugglers every night,” he added.Washington has also been maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports in an attempt to squeeze the country’s economy, while negotiations to end the conflict are deadlocked.Hormuz, bordered to the north by Iran and to the south by Oman, is only about 30 kilometers (19 miles) wide at its narrowest point and is a critical route for ships carrying oil and gas from energy-rich Gulf countries.TEHRAN — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to strike American bases across the Middle East if the US military continues to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.“The US military must know that if this trend continues, the conflict will extend to its bases in the region,” the Guards said in a statement on their Sepah News website.Iran claims control over Hormuz, a strategic shipping route through which one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies passed before war broke out in February.It regularly attacks ships that attempt to navigate the strait without its authorization.But the US military has been escorting vessels through the waterway in increasing numbers, with Iran responding by stepping up attacks.The IRGC said it tracked four ships that had previously used what Tehran calls an “illegal” route and struck them simultaneously while they were transferring oil cargo from ship to ship in the northern-central Gulf, adding that “fires were still burning on the targeted ships.”Three other vessels hit mines west of the Strait of Hormuz overnight, caught fire and were halted, the IRGC claimed. “The insistence of the arrogant US regime on inciting vessels to pass through the illegal mined passage has increased maritime incidents day by day,” it said.”The US has valuable assets in the region. In case of war, cables, data centers and AI facilities could also come within range. If the conflict starts again, we will have a broader plan,” Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said, according to Iran’s Tasnim.”The Strait of Hormuz is under Iran’s control and we manage it,” Rezaei said.”Over the past two or three months, we have targeted on average 5 vessels belonging to these smugglers every night,” he added.Washington has also been maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports in an attempt to squeeze the country’s economy, while negotiations to end the conflict are deadlocked.Hormuz, bordered to the north by Iran and to the south by Oman, is only about 30 kilometers (19 miles) wide at its narrowest point and is a critical route for ships carrying oil and gas from energy-rich Gulf countries.
Iran's IRGC threatens US bases over Hormuz escorts, claims strikes on 7 ships
