Iran touts military response as US maintains blockade, hits tankers - Al Jazeera

**Iran Promises Faster, Heavier Military Response as U.S. Keeps Pressure on Maritime Routes**

*Tehran has escalated its rhetoric in recent days, warning that any further U.S. actions against Iranian interests in the Gulf and Red Sea will be met with a “faster, heavier, more painful” response.* The statement came from Ali Larijani, speaker of Iran’s parliament, during a televised briefing that followed a series of U.S. naval operations aimed at curbing what Washington describes as Iran‑linked threats to commercial shipping. Over the past week, U.S. warships have intercepted and, in at least two instances, struck vessels that the Pentagon alleges were transporting oil for Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and supplying weapons to Houthi rebels in Yemen. The moves have been framed by the United States as a necessary component of a broader “maritime security” effort, but Iranian officials have denounced them as an illegal blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

*Iran’s leadership has reiterated its readiness to expand the scope of retaliation beyond the naval domain.* In addition to Larijani’s remarks, senior IRGC commanders have hinted at the possibility of “asymmetric” strikes against U.S. naval assets and the deployment of missile systems capable of reaching the Arabian Sea. Diplomatic channels remain open, but Tehran has warned that any escalation in U.S. “economic pressure” – including sanctions on Iranian oil exports and the targeting of tankers – will compel it to “accelerate” its response, potentially targeting commercial vessels that support U.S. forces in the region. The Iranian foreign ministry has called on the United Nations to intervene, arguing that the blockade violates international law and threatens global energy markets.

*The United States, for its part, maintains that its actions are defensive and coordinated with regional allies.* The Pentagon’s spokesperson emphasized that the strikes on the tankers were limited to “self‑defense” and that the U.S. Navy will continue to enforce freedom of navigation in the Gulf while monitoring Iranian activity. Congressional leaders have expressed concern that a miscalculation could draw the two powers into a broader conflict, urging diplomatic engagement to de‑escalate tensions. As both sides trade warnings, shipping companies have begun rerouting vessels around the southern tip of Africa, underscoring the growing economic ripple effects of the dispute.