The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned on Thursday that countries assisting the United States will face a 'harsh response' and that 'aggressors' will be punished immediately. The threat came as two oil tankers attempted to exit the Strait of Hormuz overnight, but one caught fire in an Iranian attack and both returned, according to a statement from Tehran. The IRGC reiterated that the strait remains under its control and will not reopen as long as Washington threatens.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz overnight, setting it ablaze and forcing both the struck vessel and a second tanker to turn back, according to a statement from Tehran. The IRGC issued a direct threat on Thursday, warning that any country assisting the United States will face a "harsh response" and that "aggressors" will be punished immediately. The group reiterated that the strait remains under its control and will not reopen as long as Washington threatens.
This update follows a series of reports The Zioneer tracked from early Thursday (08:34 Jerusalem), when the IRGC first claimed it had repelled two tankers attempting to exit the southern strait, with a fire reported on one vessel. Within minutes, the IRGC escalated its rhetoric, threatening to "punish the aggressor today" and warning that the strait will stay closed as long as it perceives provocations and threats from American entities. Later versions of the statement explicitly attributed the fire to an Iranian attack, shifting from an earlier claim that the fire was caused by U.S. aircraft maneuvers. By 10:19 Jerusalem, The Zioneer published a comprehensive account detailing the IRGC's assertion of control and its threats to countries aiding the "aggressor." The current bulletin now confirms the attack overtly and frames the broader warning.
As The Zioneer reported in recent weeks, the IRGC has escalated its campaign to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to trigger a global energy crisis and warning of attacks on Israel if U.S. strikes on Iran continue. The group previously declared the strait closed in June and has disabled commercial vessels in earlier incidents.
The identity and nationality of the tankers, the extent of the damage, and any casualties remain unverified.
7 developments
- ConfirmedIRGC threatens imminent retaliation after US strikes near Strait of Hormuz
- StrongIRGC claims fatal tanker attack, warns against US cooperation in Strait of Hormuz
- DevelopingIRGC Threatens to Halt Oil, Gas Exports Through Strait of Hormuz if US Strikes Continue
- DevelopingIRGC Navy commander threatens to attack hostile warships in Strait of Hormuz
Source and signal
- Open-source intake