Tensions between Iran and the United States have intensified after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned that American military bases across the Middle East could come under attack if US forces continue escorting ships through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement published on Thursday on their Sepah News website, the Guards said Washington’s continued military operations in the waterway could widen the ongoing conflict and bring American bases in the region into the line of fire.
“The US military must know that if this trend continues, the conflict will extend to its bases in the region,” the Guards warned.
“This is a serious warning,” they added.
Iran claims control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international shipping route that carried around one-fifth of global oil supplies before the war began in February.
The waterway has become a major flashpoint in the conflict, with Iranian forces regularly attacking vessels attempting to pass through without Tehran’s authorisation.
However, the US military has increased its efforts to escort ships through the strait, prompting Iran to intensify its attacks in response.
According to Iranian forces, four ships were struck overnight as they attempted to navigate the wider Gulf. The reported attacks have added to concerns about the safety of commercial shipping and the potential for further military escalation.
Washington is also maintaining a naval blockade on Iranian ports as part of efforts to put pressure on Iran’s economy. Meanwhile, negotiations aimed at ending the conflict remain deadlocked, with no clear breakthrough in sight.
The Strait of Hormuz is bordered by Iran to the north and Oman to the south. At its narrowest point, the passage measures approximately 30 kilometres (19 miles) across.
Despite its relatively small width, the route is crucial to global energy supplies, serving as a major passage for oil and gas shipments from energy-producing countries in the Gulf.
Iran’s latest warning raises fresh concerns that continued confrontations over shipping access could expand the conflict beyond the waterway and threaten American military installations across the Middle East.
