U.S. military threatens to attack the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian civilian ports; Iran responds

On the 11th, U.S. Central Command stated that Iran is using civilian ports along the Strait of Hormuz for military purposes and threatened to take military action against these ports. Iran’s military responded, saying that if that happens, all ports in the region would become Iran’s “legitimate targets.”

U.S. Central Command posted on social media that the Iranian Navy has deployed warships and equipment at civilian ports, using these ports to “conduct military actions that threaten international shipping.” If civilian ports are used for military purposes, they will “lose protection” and “become legitimate military targets.” Iranian civilians are advised to avoid entering these ports.

Later, Iranian Armed Forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi told Iran’s national television that if Iran’s ports and docks are threatened, all ports and docks in the region would become Iran’s “legitimate targets.”

On the 10th, U.S. President Donald Trump posted multiple messages on social media threatening Iran not to lay mines in the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Central Command announced that on that day, U.S. forces destroyed several Iranian Navy vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, including 16 mine-laying ships.

According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency on the 11th, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a statement saying that the Strait of Hormuz is under strict control of the IRGC Navy, and “American aggressors and their allies have no right of passage.”