US Central Command released footage on Saturday showing strikes on tankers linked to Iran. Iran's chief negotiator stated that the country would respond with a "faster, heavier, and more painful response" to US attacks, as tensions rise between the two nations. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized that Americans must recognize that the "rules of the game have changed," according to a translation of his remarks on state media.
These comments follow a week of renewed hostilities, with the US conducting strikes on Iranian oil tankers in response to attacks on American warships in the region. The BBC has reached out to US Central Command (Centcom) for further comment.
Iranian state media reported that the Iranian Navy attacked an American remote-controlled vessel attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz. Centcom spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins dismissed the report as false, according to the Associated Press.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to Iran's threats on social media, stating, "It's simple: if Iran shoots at US ships, we will destroy (and sink) their oil tankers."
A 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran expired last month, leading to a resumption of attacks by the US last Sunday. The US has conducted multiple strikes on Iranian targets, while Iran has retaliated against US interests in the region, including in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.
US President Donald Trump commented that the renewed fighting would not last "too long," reiterating statements made by his administration since the conflict began in February. Ongoing negotiations between the US and Iran have not produced a lasting peace, and there are no indications of a potential diplomatic resolution.
The Strait of Hormuz, vital for global oil and gas transportation, has been effectively closed since the onset of the conflict, giving Iran significant leverage. Tehran has maintained that it will not relinquish control over the waterway, while Trump has asserted that the strait is "open," with US military assistance for ships navigating the southern route.
The conflict has contributed to rising global gas prices, with Trump facing scrutiny over the war's impact on American consumers ahead of the midterm elections. The average price for diesel in the US reached $5.85 per gallon on Friday, compared to $3.71 a year prior.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright reported that approximately 9 million barrels of oil per day are currently passing through the strait, which could alleviate some pressure on energy prices. He noted that oil is also being transported through pipelines in the region, indicating that flows are at about two-thirds of pre-conflict levels. In an interview on ABC This Week, Wright suggested that gas prices may decrease as summer demand diminishes after Labor Day.