Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday warned that any further attacks on Iranian oil tankers or commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz would trigger a “heavy assault” on American military assets and ships in the region, amid escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington in the Persian Gulf.In a statement posted on X, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy Command said, “Warning! Any aggression against Iran’s oil tankers and commercial vessels will result in a heavy assault against one of the American centres in the region and the enemy’s ships.”Shortly afterward, the IRGC Aerospace Force claimed that Iranian missiles and drones were already targeting US military assets and naval vessels in the region.“IRGC Aerospace Force missiles and drones have locked onto American targets in the region and the enemy aggressor’s ships. We are awaiting the order to fire,” the post read.The warning came a day after the United States Central Command said US naval forces disabled two Iranian-flagged oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman as part of ongoing blockade operations against Iran.According to CENTCOM, the unladen tankers M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda were prevented from reaching Iranian ports after a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet operating from the USS George H.W. Bush fired precision munitions into the vessels’ smokestacks.CENTCOM said US forces have disabled four Iranian vessels since April 13 and redirected 58 commercial ships during the blockade period.The latest developments follow an exchange of fire earlier this week between American naval forces and Iranian assets near the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy transit route.US President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed that three US Navy destroyers had come under attack while transiting the strait, but said the vessels passed through successfully.In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the destroyers “transited very successfully” despite being fired upon by Iranian forces. He also claimed Iranian naval boats involved in the confrontation were “completely destroyed” and said missiles and drones targeting the US ships had been intercepted.Iranian media, citing the IRGC, separately reiterated the warning on Saturday, saying any attack on Iranian tankers would lead to retaliation against “American centres in the region and enemy ships.”The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints, carrying a major share of global oil shipments.
