Iran has vowed to continue its confrontation with the United States and its allies following recent military strikes.
It warned that it could block the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, as the conflict drives oil prices sharply higher.
Iranian security chief Ali Larijani said Tehran would not relent until the United States “regrets” attacking the country, warning that the war would not end quickly.
His comments came amid growing fears that the conflict could trigger one of the biggest disruptions in global oil supply.
The warning followed a statement by Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed the position after the death of his father and predecessor Ali Khamenei in a recent strike. In a message read on state television, Mojtaba Khamenei called for retaliation and said Iran should use its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz.
The strategic waterway, located between Iran and the Gulf states, carries roughly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil and about a fifth of global liquefied natural gas supplies, making any disruption a major concern for global energy markets.
Meanwhile, United States President Donald Trump defended the ongoing military campaign against Iran, saying defeating Tehran was more important than the impact on crude oil prices. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said the joint US-Israeli campaign was aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities and creating conditions for political change in the country.
The conflict has already spread across parts of the Gulf region, with Iranian drones reportedly striking fuel storage facilities in Muharraq, Bahrain, while damage was also reported at the international airport in Kuwait City and in Dubai.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia said they intercepted drones targeting the Shaybah oil field and the diplomatic district in Riyadh, as Gulf states face increasing security threats linked to the escalating confrontation.
The fighting has also intensified in Lebanon, where officials said hundreds of people have been killed in Israeli strikes amid clashes with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Iran’s health ministry has reported more than 1,200 people killed since the war began, while the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said about three million people have been displaced across the country as the conflict continues to expand across the Middle East.
