Hormuz Tensions Surge After Iran’s Khamenei Warning
News Desk/Agencies
Tehran: Amid intensifying confrontation between Iran and the United States, the strategic Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy and shipping corridors, has emerged as the central flashpoint of the conflict, with Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei declaring the waterway will remain closed unless American military bases in the region are shut down.
In his first recorded audio message after assuming office, Khamenei warned that Iran would continue targeting US military installations across the Middle East if Washington maintains its military presence in the region.
He said Iran’s actions were aimed exclusively at military facilities but cautioned that the campaign would inevitably continue.
“The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed,” Khamenei said in the message, adding that the United States must immediately shut down all its bases in the Middle East or risk further attacks. He argued that the American military presence was fueling tension and war across the region.
The new Iranian leader also vowed to avenge what he described as Iran’s “martyrs,” particularly those linked to the Manab School, saying national unity and public solidarity would help defeat Iran’s enemies.
“My position demands many things from me,” he said, emphasizing that Iran would not abandon its quest to avenge those killed in recent hostilities.
He also stressed that the strength of Iran lies in the unity of its people and reiterated Tehran’s desire for friendly relations with neighboring countries.
Israeli Strike Claim Targets Iranian Facility
Meanwhile, the conflict widened as Israel Defense Forces claimed responsibility for airstrikes on what it described as an Iranian nuclear-related site.
According to the Israeli military, the targeted facility is located in the Taleghan compound near Tehran. The site was allegedly involved in activities linked to advanced explosives production and sensitive experiments associated with the so-called Emad project, which Israel claims relates to nuclear weapons development.
The Israeli military said the compound had been struck multiple times in recent days as part of an ongoing campaign to weaken Iran’s nuclear capabilities. It also noted that the same facility had previously been targeted in October 2024 in response to an Iranian missile attack.
Israel said intelligence reports indicated that Iran had recently begun steps to reactivate the facility following earlier strikes, prompting the latest military action.
Shipping Routes Under Attack
At sea, the crisis has begun to directly threaten international maritime trade.
A Thai cargo vessel, Mayuri Nari, was struck by an unknown projectile while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The bulk carrier, measuring about 178 meters in length and weighing roughly 30,000 tons, had departed from Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates and was heading to Kandla Port in India when part of the vessel caught fire.
According to the Thai Navy, 20 crew members were rescued while three others remain missing following the attack.
The incident was one of several maritime security threats reported in the region. A maritime security agency confirmed that three ships carrying the flags of Thailand, Japan and the Marshall Islands were struck by missiles or projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz and the nearby Gulf of Oman.
One vessel was hit near Dubai, while another was attacked about 11 nautical miles off the coast of Oman. Fires broke out on the affected ships but were later brought under control, with crew members reported safe.
US Military Issues Civilian Warning
As tensions mounted, the United States Central Command issued an urgent warning to civilians and maritime workers, accusing Iran of using commercial ports along the Strait of Hormuz for military purposes.
In a statement released from Tampa, CENTCOM said Iranian naval forces had deployed military ships and equipment inside ports normally used for commercial maritime traffic.
The command warned that civilian ports used for military operations could lose their protected status under international law and become legitimate military targets.
It urged Iranian civilians, dock workers, port authorities and commercial ship crews to stay away from ports where the Iranian Navy is operating, cautioning that even US forces cannot guarantee the safety of civilians near those locations.
“Using civilian ports for military operations puts innocent lives at risk,” the statement said, adding that U.S. forces would continue taking precautions to minimize civilian harm while maintaining operations in the region.
Strategic Waterway at the Center of Global Concern
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, has increasingly become a battleground in the escalating confrontation between Iran and the United States.
With missile strikes, naval deployments and threats of closure intensifying, analysts warn that continued instability in the narrow waterway could disrupt global energy supplies, maritime trade routes and regional security on an unprecedented scale. Input by Shazia Mehboob.
