Iran says proportional retaliation over after US tanker strikes in Gulf blockade

Tehran announced on Thursday that the window for a proportionate response to a recent U.S. strike on Iranian‑flagged tankers has closed, signaling a shift toward a broader retaliation. The statement came after U.S. forces targeted two tankers operating within a naval blockade line that the United States has maintained in the Red Sea to protect commercial shipping from Houthi attacks. The U.S. Department of Defense said the vessels were linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and posed a security threat, but did not disclose casualty figures.

Iran’s foreign ministry warned that the cessation of “proportionate” measures does not preclude a more extensive response, emphasizing that any future action would be calibrated to the scale of the perceived aggression. The declaration arrives amid heightened regional tensions, with both sides accusing each other of escalating hostilities in a corridor already strained by the ongoing conflict in Yemen. Analysts note that Tehran’s shift could lead to heightened naval activity or asymmetric attacks, although no specific plans have been outlined. The development underscores the fragile security environment surrounding the Red Sea and the potential for further escalation.