Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Wednesday the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the United States halts its “acts of aggression,” warning that other regional oil export routes could also be targeted.
Fighting between the US and Iran since late February has disrupted energy shipments through the strait, a vital transit channel for Gulf oil and gas, AFP reports.
According to state television IRIB, the Guards said they had struck US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait following American attacks on Iranian territory.
“The enemy should know that now that its maritime raiders have blocked the Indian Ocean route for oil and gas exports to the world — endangering the interests of America’s economic rivals — it should also expect the closure of other oil and gas export routes serving the United States and its allies,” the statement said, without specifying which routes.
“Oil and gas exports from the region will either be available for everyone or for no one,” they added.
In a separate statement, the Guards said retaliatory operations would continue and the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Washington ends its aggression.
US officials have rejected Tehran’s claims of control over navigation in the strait, insisting international shipping lanes remain open.
