Tehran

Iran has warned it could launch attacks on ports across the region if its own economic ports are targeted, according to reports by the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

Quoting a senior spokesperson for Iran’s armed forces, IRIB reported that Tehran would respond forcefully to any strike on its economic infrastructure. “If any attack is carried out against Iran’s economic ports, all docks, ports, and economic zones across the Middle East will be destroyed,” the official said.

Amid rising tensions, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has intensified its maritime blockade in the Persian Gulf, claiming to have targeted several international vessels while enforcing a strict “no-move” zone in the strategic waterway.

State broadcaster Press TV shared a documentary from the “heart of the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,” showing vessels anchored in place under the threat of attack if they move even slightly.

The footage reportedly shows speedboats operated by Basij volunteers from Bandar Abbas, described as the “Defenders of the Persian Gulf.” According to the report, the IRGC claims to have struck 14 oil tankers, including two American vessels.

Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the IRGC Naval Force, said ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz must obtain Iran’s approval or risk becoming targets. He claimed that vessels such as Express Rome and Mayuree Naree were attacked after ignoring warnings.

Iranian state media also reported that the IRGC has designated specific maritime zones where any ship movement could trigger drone strikes. The blockade has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route through which more than 20 million barrels of crude oil pass each day.

The disruption comes amid ongoing US-Israeli air strikes on Iran, which reportedly began on February 28 and triggered retaliatory actions from Tehran.

In response to volatility in global oil markets, the United States Department of Energy said it plans to release 172 million barrels from the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve starting next week, with deliveries expected to take about 120 days.

Earlier, the International Energy Agency (IEA) also announced the release of 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves of its 32 member countries to help stabilise supply amid the escalating conflict.

READ MORE: DySP Santosh Kumar's emotional reunion with Habib Mastar Sir

Despite these measures, Iranian forces continue to maintain tight control over the passage, with many foreign vessels reportedly halted in the waterway and warned not to operate their engines under threat of immediate aerial strikes.