Iran has warned it will close additional regional trade corridors following the United States’ deployment of new military strikes targeting Iranian military installations.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have declared the Strait of Hormuz will remain sealed until the US ceases its “aggressive actions,” and have also cautioned that other key oil and gas export pathways in the region may face closure.
The warning follows the US Central Command’s announcement that forces executed coordinated drone, air, and naval operations against Iranian targets on Wednesday morning, after a prior seven-hour strike mission overnight.
Recent escalations between the US and Iran have heightened concerns over disruptions to global energy markets, particularly as the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint for petroleum shipments—has seen significant reductions in maritime traffic.
According to Centcom, Wednesday’s strikes “degraded Iran’s capacity to target commercial vessels in the Strait,” with a targeted 90-minute operation aimed at coastal defenses and cruise missile facilities on Greater Tunb Island.
The operation precedes former President Donald Trump’s recent pledge to intensify pressure on Iran, including potential strikes on infrastructure such as bridges and power grids should diplomatic engagement fail.
Trump also indicated that prior threats to disrupt energy flows through the Strait would be replaced by strategic economic initiatives with Gulf Cooperation Council states, aiming to mitigate potential supply disruptions.
The current escalation revives earlier concerns over civilian infrastructure attacks, including Trump’s April threat to target Iran’s civilian facilities, which drew criticism from UN human rights authorities as potentially constituting war crimes under international law.
