United States — Ekhbary News Agency
The United States issued a stern warning to Iran on Tuesday, stating it would respond "devastatingly" to any attack targeting shipping traffic in the vital Strait of Hormuz. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered the warning, while simultaneously asserting that Washington does not seek confrontation in the strategic waterway, noting that a truce with the Islamic Republic has held so far.
US Operation to Facilitate Commercial Passage
Hegseth's warning came just one day after the United States commenced an operation aimed at facilitating the passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran imposes restrictions on transit through this critical maritime chokepoint, which Tehran describes as a response to the "US-Israeli war."
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Ongoing Tensions in the Strategic Waterway
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most crucial maritime routes for oil and gas shipments and has historically been a flashpoint for tensions between Iranian forces and Western vessels. Washington reiterates its commitment to freedom of international navigation, while Tehran insists on its right to assert sovereignty over its territorial waters, particularly amidst heightened regional tensions.
