Iran threatens a “faster, more intense and more painful” response to US attacks, declares Strait of Hormuz a “prohibited zone”

Iran has warned the United States that the era of proportional retaliation is over. Mohamad Baqer Qalibaf, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said any attack on Iranian interests or security would draw a response “faster, more intense and more painful.”

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The Americans must have understood that the era of proportional responses is over.

The warning followed Iran’s claim that it had attacked US warships in retaliation for American bombing of Iranian oil tankers. The conflict began on February 28 with Israeli and US strikes on Tehran, and diplomatic efforts to end it remain stalled.

Mohsen Rezai said Iran would declare a location near the Strait of Hormuz a “prohibited zone” in the coming days. He said the zone would begin at the US Navy’s blockade line and extend into parts of the Gulf. Any vessel entering it, he added, would be placed on a sanctions list.

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Any aggression against Iran’s interests and security will receive a faster, more intense and more painful response.

Hostilities resumed on August 30, after more than a month of relative calm, when the United States bombed Iranian infrastructure around the strategic strait. Since Friday, the two sides have fought mainly at sea, while shipping traffic has fallen sharply because of Iran’s declared blockade of the strait and the US encirclement of Iranian ports.

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Any ship that enters this new zone will be included on a sanctions list.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also said they had struck a US unmanned military vehicle that was “trying to enter the protected zone.” Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command, called the claim a “total lie” and said no US vessel had been attacked that day. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Iranian authorities were trying to cling to power, arguing that Iran’s nuclear program, navy and air force were coming to an end.

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A total lie.