The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Thursday announced that it had targeted a US-linked tanker in the northern Gulf in retaliation for the sinking of the Iranian naval frigate Dena in the Indian Ocean.
The IRGC declared that all ships linked to the United States, Israel, and their allies in the region are now considered legitimate targets. “If they are observed, they will certainly be hit,” the force stated.
The IRGC reiterated its earlier position: “We had previously said that, based on international laws and resolutions, in times of war, the Islamic Republic of Iran will have the right to control the passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”
The action follows the IRGC’s vow of severe revenge after the United States sank the frigate Dena, killing 87 Iranian service members. In a strongly worded statement carried by IRGC-affiliated media, the force declared.
“Iran’s warning is clear. The US attack on the frigate Dena in international waters has crossed a red line. The Islamic Republic’s naval and missile forces are disciplined, united and fully prepared to respond. Any further aggression will be met with decisive, overwhelming, and strategically precise retaliation, showing that Tehran’s sovereignty and regional authority cannot be challenged,” it added.
Separately, Iranian Minister for Energy Abbas Aliabadi confirmed on Thursday that recent US strikes had damaged water and electricity supply facilities across parts of the country. He stated that repair efforts were ongoing to restore uninterrupted services and urged citizens to conserve water and electricity during the recovery phase.
Iranian armed forces issued a separate statement reaffirming respect for the sovereignty of neighbouring Türkiye, and denying involvement in a missile that crossed Turkish airspace on Wednesday night after traversing Iraq and Syria, as reported by Türkiye’s Defence Ministry.
Iran has also warned of potential false-flag operations by Israel in Saudi Arabia and other neighbouring countries designed to inflame hostility toward Tehran.
Iranian officials cited a recent incident in which Saudi authorities reportedly arrested Mossad-linked operatives allegedly planning bomb attacks on Saudi oil refineries to provoke a broader regional war.
Also read: Middle East war intensifies after US tanks Iranian naval ship
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