Iran threatens wider trade route closures as US strikes intensify
Tensions in the Gulf surged Wednesday after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to shut down more regional trade routes in response to fresh US military strikes.
The Guards said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Washington ended what they called “acts of aggression,” warning that other oil and gas export channels serving US allies could also be targeted.
The statement came hours after US Central Command confirmed drone, air and naval strikes on Iranian military positions, following a seven‑hour overnight operation. President Donald Trump escalated the rhetoric further, vowing to hit Iran’s bridges and power plants next week if the country does not return to negotiations. “I’ll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we’ll hit energy targets,” Trump told Fox News.
The confrontation has already disrupted shipping. On Tuesday evening, Washington re‑imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, halting vessel traffic to and from coastal areas. In response, Iran’s state broadcaster reported that its army had launched attacks on US targets in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain. Regional allies said they intercepted drones and missiles fired from Iran.
The crisis has sparked alarm among civil society groups and energy analysts, who warn that prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil exports, could destabilise markets and deepen regional insecurity.
Source: BBC
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