The U.S. military attacked Iranian targets once again on the night leading into Saturday. A Pentagon statement indicated that these actions are intended to further degrade Iran’s military capabilities.
In response, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that two oil tankers struck mines and subsequently exploded. Washington, however, refuted these claims entirely, stating that the IRGC’s assertions were false. According to the IRGC’s official declaration, the two tankers had attempted to pass through a minefield located in the southern Strait of Hormuz. Details regarding the ownership of the vessels or any potential casualties were not released. Furthermore, the IRGC announced that it had stopped four other vessels attempting passage through the Strait of Hormuz using a combined rocket and drone deployment, although this claim cannot yet be independently confirmed.
In parallel, the United States reactivated its blockade of Iranian ports. The effective closure of this vital global shipping route has led to a significant surge in energy prices worldwide. Amid this escalating tension, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to broaden the scope of attacks on Iran if ongoing negotiations regarding a ceasefire and the resumption of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fail. Correspondingly, Mohsen Rezaei, a senior IRGC officer, issued a warning regarding a potential “comprehensive offensive” should the United States persist with its military strikes.
