10 May 2026 | Tehran, Iran / Washington, United States
TEHRAN – Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have issued a direct warning to the United States, threatening to strike American military and naval assets across the Middle East if Iranian oil tankers continue to come under attack in the Gulf.
The warning comes as President Donald Trump waits for Tehran’s response to Washington’s latest ceasefire proposal, with tensions escalating in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and fears growing over a wider regional conflict.
“Any attack on Iranian tankers and commercial vessels will result in a heavy attack on one of the American centres in the region and enemy ships,” the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement carried by Iranian media.
⚡ MIDDLE EAST FLASHPOINT: US strikes on Iranian tankers • Strait of Hormuz under pressure • Oil slick near Kharg Island • Ceasefire proposal pending • Regional war fears rising • Lebanon front heating up
Iran Threatens Retaliation After US Tanker Strikes
The latest threat follows US military strikes on two Iranian-flagged oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, which Washington said were challenging its maritime blockade on Iranian ports.
Iran says the attack is a violation of the ceasefire framework and proof that Washington cannot be trusted in ongoing diplomacy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of repeatedly choosing military escalation over peaceful negotiation.
“The recent escalation by American forces has increased doubts about Washington’s seriousness in diplomacy,” Araghchi said during a phone call with Turkey’s foreign minister.
— Iran Revolutionary Guards
Trump Waiting for Iran’s Response
President Donald Trump said Friday he was expecting Iran’s answer to Washington’s latest peace proposal “very soon,” but no formal public response has yet emerged.
The proposal, delivered through Pakistani mediators, reportedly seeks to extend the fragile Gulf truce and create space for broader peace negotiations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remains hopeful Tehran will respond constructively.
“I hope it’s a serious offer. The hope is it’s something that can put us into a serious process of negotiation,” Rubio said during a diplomatic stop in Rome.
Fresh Attack Near Qatar Raises Alarm
On Sunday morning, the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre reported that a commercial bulk carrier caught fire after being hit by an unknown projectile off Qatar’s coast.
The incident occurred about 23 nautical miles northeast of Doha. The fire was quickly extinguished, and no casualties were immediately reported.
The source of the attack remains unknown, but it adds to growing instability in Gulf shipping lanes.
Oil Slick Detected Near Iran’s Kharg Island
Satellite images released Saturday showed what appears to be a large oil slick spreading near Iran’s Kharg Island — the country’s most important oil export hub.
The spill covered an estimated 20 square miles, according to global monitoring firm Orbital EOS.
Environmental analysts say it may be linked to damaged oil infrastructure or leaks caused by recent military activity.
Kharg Island is a cornerstone of Iran’s oil economy, and any disruption there could have immediate effects on global oil markets.
📊 GULF CRISIS AT A GLANCE
- US strikes: 2 Iranian tankers disabled
- Oil slick size: 20+ square miles
- Key location: Kharg Island export terminal
- Strategic chokepoint: Strait of Hormuz
- Ceasefire talks: Under review by Iran
- Mediator: Pakistan
- US military presence: Expanded naval patrols
Hormuz Crisis Threatens Global Energy Markets
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical shipping routes, carrying roughly a fifth of global oil supplies.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to restrict access to the waterway as leverage against Western sanctions and military pressure.
After the outbreak of war in late February, Iran partially closed the strait, causing oil prices to spike and rattling financial markets worldwide.
The US insists Tehran cannot be allowed to control such a vital international energy corridor.
Rubio Meets Qatar Leadership as Mediation Intensifies
Marco Rubio met with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Saturday, discussing regional security and ongoing mediation efforts.
Qatar remains one of Washington’s most important diplomatic intermediaries in the Gulf, despite itself being targeted by Iran earlier in the war because of its hosting of a major US airbase.
Lebanon Front Also Heating Up
At the same time, fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has intensified despite a separate ceasefire agreement.
At least nine people were killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Saturday, while Hezbollah responded with explosive drones targeting northern Israel.
The escalation threatens to open a second major front in the broader regional conflict involving Iran and its allies.
Lebanon and Israel are due to begin direct talks in Washington next week — a move Hezbollah strongly opposes.
Diplomacy or Regional War?
As the US waits for Iran’s answer, the region remains balanced between diplomacy and a wider war.
Trump’s administration is pushing for a longer ceasefire and structured talks, but each new strike, tanker attack, and exchange of fire increases the risk of escalation.
The Gulf remains volatile, oil markets remain nervous, and the Strait of Hormuz remains the world’s most dangerous economic chokepoint.
Whether diplomacy survives the next few days may shape the future of the Middle East.
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