Iran warns US energy assets in Gulf are vulnerable after latest clashes - reuters.com

**Iran Warns U.S. Energy Assets in the Gulf Are Vulnerable After Latest Clashes**

*Tehran has cautioned that American oil and gas facilities in the Persian Gulf could become legitimate targets in the wake of recent maritime incidents, raising concerns over the stability of a region that supplies roughly one‑quarter of the world’s oil.* The warning follows a series of confrontations that began in early April, when Iranian-backed militias seized a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and later claimed responsibility for striking a U.S.‑operated vessel. The incidents have escalated diplomatic friction between Tehran and Washington, prompting Iranian officials to assert that U.S. energy infrastructure is now “exposed” and could be struck if retaliation intensifies.

Speaking to state media, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said the country would respond to any “American aggression” with a “faster, heavier, more painful” reaction, explicitly naming U.S. offshore platforms and refineries as “legitimate” targets. The statement echoed similar rhetoric from Iran’s foreign ministry, which warned that the United States’ “unprovoked attacks” on Iranian vessels have “crossed the red line” and could trigger a broader campaign against American assets in the Gulf. Analysts note that such language marks a departure from Tehran’s usual strategic ambiguity, signaling a willingness to expand the scope of retaliation beyond naval engagements to include critical energy infrastructure.

The United States has so far rejected Iran’s threats, with the Pentagon’s Central Command describing the statements as “dangerous rhetoric” that will not alter its commitment to safeguarding freedom of navigation and protecting allied energy interests. Nonetheless, the prospect of attacks on oil platforms has rattled markets, pushing Brent crude up by roughly 2 % and prompting several multinational energy firms to review contingency plans for their Gulf operations. Diplomatic channels remain open, but the heightened rhetoric underscores the risk that the regional conflict could spill over into the global energy supply chain, with potential repercussions for oil prices and international trade.

---