Iran has declared it will launch "prolonged and painful" attacks on US positions if Washington resumes military action. The warning was issued amid a 2-month conflict between the US, Israel and Iran with no clear way out.
A senior official of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Force emphasized that any new attack, even limited, will lead to strong reactions. Mr. Majid Mousavi - Commander of the Iranian Aerospace Forces - was quoted by Iranian media as saying that US bases and warships could become targets.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei affirmed that Iran will eliminate the presence of foreign forces in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing that this area must be controlled by Tehran. Meanwhile, the strategic strait is still closed, disrupting about 20% of global oil and gas supplies and pushing energy prices up sharply.
Although the two sides reached a ceasefire agreement on April 8, tensions have not cooled down as Iran continues to blockade its maritime route in response to the US oil export blockade. Negotiation efforts have stalled, with Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei saying that achieving quick results is unrealistic.
US President Donald Trump is said to have received a report on new attack options to put pressure on Iran to negotiate. Some plans include the possibility of using ground forces to control part of the Strait of Hormuz or expanding the blockade.
Brent oil prices at one point exceeded 126 USD/barrel before falling to about 114 USD, reflecting market concerns. The United Nations warned that prolonged disruptions could undermine global growth, increase inflation and push tens of millions of people into poverty.
In the region, the United Arab Emirates has banned citizens from traveling to Iran, Lebanon and Iraq, and called on those currently in these countries to leave. Air defense operations were also recorded in Tehran as Iranian forces deal with drones.
Mr. Trump reaffirmed that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons and said that gasoline prices would fall sharply if the war ended. However, the difference between the two sides is still very large, from the nuclear program to controlling the Strait of Hormuz and regional security issues.
