Iran threatened to respond to U.S. “economic warfare” with a maritime exclusion zone across the Persian Gulf, while Iranian-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia escalated tensions around regional energy supplies.

Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on X that Washington had received a “clear warning” from Iran’s new missiles and that any economic warfare would be met by a maritime exclusion zone extending across the Gulf to the perimeter of the U.S. blockade.

He added that Iran’s operational posture toward U.S. warships and bases had been “fundamentally recalibrated.”

The proposed restricted zone would begin where the U.S. blockade of Iran ends and extend into the Gulf, Rezaei said earlier on state television. Iranian officials have said vessels entering the zone could be placed on an Iranian sanctions list, while Tehran plans to announce maps for a new shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Houthi militants launched a wave of attacks on Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, injuring 73 people, according to Saudi authorities. The attacks targeted several locations in the kingdom and heightened concerns that the conflict could spread to Gulf states hosting U.S. military forces.

The escalation came as Tehran stepped up warnings against Washington after U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers on Saturday. Iranian state media said Iran had fired the Qassem Basir missile at several U.S. vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military said its warships evaded the missile attacks.

Source: Investing.com