Iranian parliamentary speaker warns of stronger US response amid escalating tensions
Iran's parliament speaker cautioned that the United States must recognize a shift in the conflict, while both sides have exchanged strikes in the Gulf region following recent attacks on naval vessels.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that the United States needs to understand that "the rules of the game have changed" and warned of a faster, heavier and more painful response to American attacks. His remarks came a day after the United States announced it had struck Iranian oil tankers in retaliation for Tehran's attacks on U.S. warships in regional waters.
Iranian state media reported that the Iranian navy had engaged a U.S. remotely-operated vessel attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Central Command dismissed the claim, with spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins calling the report "a total lie."
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also warned that any Iranian fire on U.S. ships would lead to the destruction of Iranian oil tankers. The 60-day cease-fire that had been in place between the two countries expired last month, and hostilities have resumed with strikes on both sides targeting locations in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.
President Donald Trump said the renewed fighting would not last "too long," a sentiment echoed by his administration since the conflict began in February. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, remains effectively closed, prompting concerns about rising fuel prices. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright noted that about 9 million barrels of oil per day continue to flow through the strait, which could help mitigate price pressures.