Iran has warned that if the United States launches another Case , it will carry out “prolonged and painful” retaliatory strikes against U.S. bases across the الخليج region while reaffirming its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a move that has complicated Washington’s efforts to form a coalition to reopen the vital waterway; despite two months having passed since the جنگ involving Iran, the United States, and Israel began, the strait remains closed, disrupting nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply and driving global energy prices higher while increasing the risk of an economic slowdown; Pakistan-led mediation efforts to de-escalate the conflict have largely stalled, and although a ceasefire has been in place since April 8, Iran continues to block the strait in response to U.S. naval restrictions that have effectively halted its oil exports, the backbone of its economy; according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei defended the closure on Thursday night, saying it is justified under international law due to wartime conditions and the need to protect national rights, while accusing the United States of misusing a waterway adjacent to Iranian territory and criticizing regional countries for assisting foreign attacks against an اسلامی nation during the holy month of Ramadan, calling it an injustice that will have lasting consequences; meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates has banned its citizens from traveling to Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq and urged those currently there to return immediately, and in response to Iran’s threats, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash stated that Iran’s actions have undermined trust among its neighbors; Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa also condemned Iran’s alleged aggression, accusing Tehran of threatening national security and inciting internal actors, warning that those siding with attackers could face imprisonment, loss of citizenship, and deportation, while calling for unity and accountability; it remains unclear whether Washington will launch another strike, but the deadline for congressional authorization of military action has arrived, and under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, the administration must justify its operations or scale them back, with officials suggesting that the April ceasefire effectively reset the timeline of hostilities; however, according to Axios, President Donald Trump has received briefings on potential further strikes aimed at pressuring Iran into negotiations, and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal expressed concern that such plans could endanger American lives and lead to significant casualties; at the same time, Iran has been preparing for possible attacks, with air defense systems activated in parts of Tehran overnight to counter drones and unmanned surveillance aircraft, and a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps official warned that any new U.S. attack, even if limited, would trigger sustained retaliation against regional bases, while Iran’s air defense commander Majid Mousavi cautioned that U.S. warships could face similar consequences; Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a message to the Iranian people, signaled that under a new management approach to the Strait of Hormuz, the “misuse of the waterway by enemies” would be eliminated, underscoring Tehran’s determination to maintain control over the strategic passage.
Tensions rise over Strait of Hormuz crisis: Iran warns of ‘painful’ retaliation over US attack threat
