Iran has warned it could shut additional oil and gas export routes across the Middle East after the United States intensified military operations, raising fears of wider disruption to global energy supplies and regional security.
Iran has threatened to expand its response to the United States by targeting additional regional trade and energy routes, as Washington launched another wave of military strikes against Iranian positions.
The warning came after the US military carried out fresh drone, air and naval attacks on Iranian military targets on Wednesday, marking another escalation in the rapidly intensifying confrontation between the two countries.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until the United States halts what it described as ongoing acts of aggression.
The Guards also warned that other major oil and gas export corridors serving the United States and its allies could be blocked if hostilities continue, although they did not specify which routes might be targeted.
The latest threat has heightened concerns about global energy markets, as the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes, with a significant share of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports passing through the narrow waterway.
The escalation followed another large-scale US military operation.
US Central Command (Centcom) said it carried out coordinated drone, air and naval strikes on Iranian military infrastructure on Wednesday, adding to a separate seven-hour overnight campaign targeting military facilities.
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The US has not released a full assessment of the damage caused by the latest attacks.
President Donald Trump also intensified his rhetoric, warning that Iran could face strikes on critical civilian infrastructure if negotiations fail to resume.
Speaking during an interview with Fox News, Trump said the United States was prepared to target bridges and power plants if Tehran refused to return to the negotiating table.
“I’ll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we’ll hit energy targets,” the president said.
The renewed military action comes only days after Trump abandoned plans to impose a proposed 20% transit fee on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Instead, he said Washington would pursue large-scale trade and investment agreements with Gulf states while maintaining military control over maritime security in the region.
At the same time, the United States reinstated a naval blockade on Iranian ports, preventing commercial vessels from entering or leaving Iranian coastal facilities.
Washington says the blockade is intended to increase pressure on Tehran and limit its ability to support military operations.
Iran responded by warning that any attempt to isolate its ports would be met with broader action affecting regional energy exports.
Although officials stopped short of identifying specific waterways, analysts note that any disruption beyond the Strait of Hormuz could significantly affect global shipping and energy markets.
Meanwhile, fighting has continued beyond Iran’s borders.
Iranian state television reported that the country’s military launched separate attacks against US military positions in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Authorities in those countries confirmed they had intercepted drones and missiles launched from Iran before they reached their intended targets.
The latest exchange marks another dangerous escalation in a conflict that has steadily expanded beyond direct US-Iran confrontation, drawing in several American allies across the Gulf.
With military operations continuing on multiple fronts and threats to vital shipping lanes increasing, concerns are growing that the crisis could further disrupt global energy supplies, international trade and regional stability if diplomatic efforts fail to resume.
