Iran warns US of wider war after seven vessels hit

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has reported that seven vessels were hit in separate incidents

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has reported that seven vessels were hit in separate incidents in the Persian Gulf and near the Strait of Hormuz, while warning the United States against further military provocations.

The IRGC Navy said on Thursday that four vessels allegedly involved in illegal oil transfers caught fire after being tracked by Iranian forces on Wednesday. It added that three other vessels struck mines west of the Strait of Hormuz. The circumstances surrounding the incidents were not independently verified.

Iran also warned that continued US military pressure could trigger a broader response against American bases across the region. The warning comes amid rising tensions over Washington’s naval blockade and restrictions on maritime traffic around the strategic waterway.

US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, said Washington was not negotiating with Tehran but suggested that developments in the conflict could emerge soon.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday after returning from a rally in South Carolina, Trump said the United States expected a significant development “one way or the other” in the near future. He added that many people believed the conflict could continue until after the US midterm elections.

Addressing supporters at the rally, Trump claimed the United States had defeated Iran militarily and economically. He said Washington could end the war immediately but wanted to ensure that any outcome would be lasting. He also reiterated that Iran would not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.

His remarks followed a report by The New York Times that US and Israeli military officials had developed plans for possible renewed strikes against Iran after the American midterm elections. The report, citing US officials and people familiar with the discussions, said Trump had not necessarily approved the proposed operations.

A White House official declined to comment on military plans that might or might not exist.

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian security official warned that Tehran could target US political assets and infrastructure in countries participating in a renewed war against Iran if Iranian officials were assassinated or civilians killed.

According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the official said Tehran viewed Washington’s diplomatic overtures with suspicion and believed another attack by the United States and Israel remained possible.

The official also accused Israel of exerting excessive influence over US policy in the Middle East, arguing that this was undermining prospects for a diplomatic settlement.

Tehran considers the US naval blockade and restrictions on Iranian airspace part of what it describes as continuing aggression that began on February 28. The official said growing domestic pressure was pushing Iranian authorities to consider stronger measures to challenge the blockade.