Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz an inviolable "red line" on Thursday, warning it would retaliate with widespread strikes on regional infrastructure if U.S. President Donald Trump followed through on threats to attack Iran's facilities. The United States has continued its fifth night of attacks and reimposed a naval blockade of Iran's ports, actions Washington states are intended to reopen the critical waterway.
Following initial strikes Wednesday night, Tehran's top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf stated, "We are in an essential and existential war with America." Iranian army spokesman Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia reinforced this stance on Thursday, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz, which previously handled approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments, is a "red line" for Iran, over which the nation maintains firm control.
"The Americans thought that by attacking some of our bases on the southern coasts of the country, they could take control of this strategic strait," Akraminia said. "However, the Islamic Republic of Iran has the ability to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz from every single point of its territory, and this matter is never dependent on coasts and islands."
Three U.S. officials indicated that the strikes are also aimed at neutralizing Iranian military capabilities prior to executing more complex operations. Iran's army stated in reference to the strait, "We will undoubtedly resist until the end and will neutralize American interventions in the region."
Iran's military spokesperson outlined that reopening the Strait of Hormuz depends on the U.S. adhering to a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed in June and implementing "Iranian regulations" concerning ship traffic in the strait.
Earlier, Trump had threatened to target Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran did not resume negotiations. Akraminia warned that if Trump proceeded with these threats, Iran's armed forces would strike "all remaining infrastructure" across the region, with a response described as more severe, wider in scope, and more destructive than previous attacks.
Iran also reported on Thursday targeting U.S. bases in Kuwait and Jordan, issuing a warning to its neighbors against allowing the U.S. to launch attacks from their soil. "Our neighbors should know that providing a base to the Americans and allowing them to fire on Iranian soil is unacceptable and will not go unanswered," Iran's army stated.
By early Thursday in the Middle East, air raid sirens were heard in Bahrain, and Kuwait reported responding to "hostile drone threats." Iran's army claimed to have targeted the Al Azraq Air Base in Jordan with ballistic missiles. Concurrently, Iran's Revolutionary Guards stated they had destroyed a satellite communications center and early warning radar at the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, along with a U.S. military pier in the Al Shuaiba area.
The Bahraini Defense Ministry confirmed that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed several Iranian aerial attacks targeting the kingdom on Thursday.
This latest escalation and Iran's threats to disrupt further regional energy exports and potentially strike infrastructure raise concerns about a potential return to full-scale conflict in the region. Analysts suggest Iran may leverage its Houthi allies in Yemen to blockade the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a crucial gateway to the Red Sea, thereby opening a new front and endangering another vital energy artery.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and millions displaced, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, where conflict has reignited between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
