Iran has signaled a significant escalation in regional maritime tensions, announcing that it will target any United States warship attempting to impose a navigation route different from the one permitted by Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz. Mohsen Rezaei, a senior advisor to Iran's supreme leader, issued the warning on Monday during an interview with state media.
Rezaei emphasized that Iranian forces would not permit the opening of a secondary corridor through the waterway. He stated that even if the United States deploys warships to force such a change, Iran would actively target them. Beyond the specific issue of navigation routes, the advisor also warned that the U.S. faces serious risks to its ships and military bases if it continues to maintain a naval blockade against Iran, asserting that Tehran would not remain a passive observer.
The Strait of Hormuz serves as a critical global waterway, having facilitated the transit of approximately one-fifth of all traded oil and natural gas prior to the current conflict. Providing further context on the government's stance, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei insisted that the passage will remain closed until U.S. violations are brought to an end.
