As the deadlock over peace talks continues, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday warned that US facilities and vessels in West Asia could be targeted if Iranian tankers are attacked
again, Iranian media reported. The warning came a day after US forces struck two Iranian tankers in the Gulf of Oman.
“Any attack on Iranian tankers and commercial vessels will result in a heavy attack on one of the American centres in the region and enemy ships,” the Guards said.
The latest tensions unfolded as Washington awaited Tehran’s response to a fresh US proposal aimed at extending the current Gulf truce and opening negotiations for a broader settlement to the conflict that began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Trump Awaits Tehran’s Response To Fresh Proposal
Earlier on Friday, US President Donald Trump said he expected Iran’s reply “supposedly tonight”, but no official response has been publicly confirmed so far. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, however, appeared to cast doubt on Washington’s intentions during a phone call with his Turkish counterpart.
“The recent escalation of tensions by American forces in the Persian Gulf and their numerous actions in violating the ceasefire have added to suspicions about the motivation and seriousness of the American side in the path of diplomacy,” Iran’s ISNA news agency quoted Araghchi as saying.
US Strikes 2 Iranian-Flagged Tankers
On Friday, a US fighter jet had reportedly targeted and disabled two Iranian-flagged tankers, with Washington accusing them of defying its blockade on Iranian ports. Iranian officials said the navy retaliated with strikes of its own.
The confrontation followed another incident near the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically crucial shipping route that Iran has sought to leverage economically and politically. The US has repeatedly stated that Tehran cannot be allowed to dominate the vital oil passage. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday that the US proposal remains “under review”.
