Iran has issued its strongest warning yet in the escalating Middle East conflict declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed and saying its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will attack any ship that tries to pass through the vital waterway a move that could choke off nearly a fifth of the world’s oil exports and severely disrupt global energy markets. Senior Iranian officials said the Guard and regular navy would “set ablaze” vessels attempting to transit the strait as Tehran retaliates for U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory a stance that has already led to hundreds of tankers anchoring outside Gulf waters and shipping companies suspending transits amid soaring war‑risk concerns. In a separate escalation Iran launched drone attacks on the U.S. Embassy compound in Riyadh Saudi Arabia causing a fire and prompting shelter‑in‑place orders for Americans in the kingdom and the evacuation of some non‑essential personnel as regional tensions spike and allied air defenses intercept additional inbound drones. The widening confrontation comes as Iran’s retaliatory strikes have also hit targets in Qatar Kuwait the UAE and Bahrain raising fears of a broader regional war stoking energy price volatility and prompting urgent diplomatic and military responses from global powers.
