Iran's IRGC Navy Reports Seven Vessels Hit, Warns US of Wider Response

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said on Thursday that seven vessels had been hit in separate incidents in the Persian Gulf and near the Strait of Hormuz, escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington. According to the IRGC, four vessels allegedly involved in illegal oil transfers in the northern Persian Gulf were tracked by Iranian forces on Wednesday before being hit simultaneously and catching fire. The force also claimed that three additional vessels struck mines west of the Strait of Hormuz. It warned the US military that continued provocations could trigger a broader response targeting American military bases across the region. The claims come amid rising tensions over maritime security, restrictions on Iranian shipping and the possibility of renewed military confrontation. The circumstances surrounding the reported vessel incidents were not independently established in the provided report. Trump Says US Is Not Negotiating With Iran US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Washington was not negotiating with Tehran, while suggesting that developments in the conflict could occur soon. 'No, I think we're not negotiating,' Trump told reporters as he returned from a rally in South Carolina. He added that 'something one way or the other' would happen 'fairly soon.' Trump acknowledged that many people expected developments after the US midterm elections, saying the situation would become clearer in the coming period. Speaking earlier at the rally, he said the United States could end its war with Iran immediately but wanted to ensure that any outcome would last. 'It'll end very soon. We could leave now, but we want to make sure it lasts for a long time,' he said. Trump also claimed that the United States had defeated Iran militarily and financially, insisting that Tehran would never acquire a nuclear weapon. Report Raises Possibility of Renewed US-Israeli Strikes The latest remarks came after The New York Times reported that the US and Israeli militaries had developed plans for renewed strikes against Iran following the US midterm elections. The report, citing US officials and other people briefed on the discussions, said it remained uncertain whether Trump would approve any new military action. The president has reportedly rejected proposals to resume major combat operations several times this year. A White House official told the newspaper that the administration does not comment on military plans 'that may or may not exist.' The reported planning has added to uncertainty over whether Washington will pursue further military action or seek a diplomatic path to resolve the conflict. Iran Warns US Political Assets Could Become Targets Separately, a senior Iranian security official warned on Wednesday that Iran could consider US political assets and infrastructure in countries participating in a renewed war against it to be legitimate targets if Iranian officials were assassinated or civilians killed. The warning was reported by Iran's Fars News Agency. According to the official, Tehran expects the United States and Israel to launch another attack and considers Washington's diplomatic gestures unreliable. The official also said that remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Athens had reinforced Iranian suspicions. Tehran interpreted Rubio's comments as providing a historical and civilisational justification for the US war against Iran. US Launches Third Consecutive Day of Strikes on Iran as IRGC Targets American Military Sites in Gulf The official further claimed that Iranian political and intellectual figures increasingly believe Israel has significant influence over US policy in the Middle East and is obstructing a diplomatic settlement. These assertions reflect the Iranian official's position and were not independently verified in the report. Tehran Says Blockade Is Part of Ongoing Aggression The Iranian official said Tehran already considered itself at war with the United States, viewing Washington's economic and naval blockade, alongside restrictions on Iranian airspace, as a continuation of military aggression that began on February 28. He added that mounting pressure from different sections of Iranian society was pushing Iranian authorities towards what he described as decisive action to break the blockade under Iran's claimed right to self-defence. According to the official, Iranian operational units had been instructed that a renewed large-scale conflict involving the assassination of Iranian officials and the killing of civilians could prompt attacks on US political assets and infrastructure in countries participating in the war. The warning raises concerns about the potential expansion of any future confrontation beyond direct military targets. Strait of Hormuz Tensions Raise Regional Concerns The latest developments come amid heightened tensions over the US naval blockade and restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway for global energy shipments. Any escalation in the surrounding waters could have wider implications for regional security, commercial shipping and energy markets. With Trump ruling out ongoing negotiations while leaving the timing and nature of future developments unclear, and Tehran warning of a broader response to renewed attacks, the possibility of further confrontation remains a major concern. The reported incidents involving the seven vessels, the prospect of renewed US-Israeli strikes and Iran's warnings underscore the risk of further escalation. However, the next steps remain uncertain, with no confirmed decision on new military action outlined in the provided report.