Iran Threatens Strategic Gulf Ports in Response to US Attacks on Chabahar

Iran has warned it will expand retaliatory attacks to include several strategic ports across the Gulf region, many of which serve US military interests or are vital for global trade and energy supplies. The threat was published by the Fars news agency, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), following US strikes on the Iranian port of Chabahar in southeastern Iran. Concurrently, the IRGC claimed attacks on targets in seven countries overnight from Thursday to Friday, including, for the first time, a US base in Syria and radar systems in Oman, though some claims remain unverified and local authorities have not confirmed damage.

The escalation follows the collapse of a ceasefire in early July, which has led to intensified US-Iran tensions. Washington has increased strikes along Iran’s southern coast, while Tehran has stepped up missile and drone attacks targeting countries hosting US forces. According to Fars, Iran’s list of potential targets includes five major Gulf ports: Jebel Ali in the UAE, Mina Salman in Bahrain (near the US Fifth Fleet headquarters), Shuwaikh in Kuwait, Hamad Port in Qatar (near the Al Udeid Air Base), and King Fahd Industrial Port in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. These sites are critical for US military logistics and regional commerce, with some having been previously targeted or threatened by Iran.

Iran also claimed attacks on the al-Tanf US base in Syria, radar installations in Oman, and missile launches toward northern Jordan, where three Iranian missiles were intercepted. Kuwait reported a fire at a power and water desalination plant after an alleged Iranian strike, prompting electricity consumption warnings amid extreme heat. Bahrain experienced air raid sirens following Iranian claims of attacks on US military assets. In Iraq, nine fighters from a Kurdish-Iranian opposition group were killed in a missile and drone strike, with Iran’s state media reporting the incident but no official responsibility claimed.

Meanwhile, US forces have conducted multiple strikes on maritime infrastructure in Chabahar, including coastal defenses and vessels, and reinstated a naval blockade on Iranian ports. The ongoing confrontations highlight the heightened risk to critical maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping remains restricted and some companies avoid US-escorted passages due to increased attacks and risk assessments.

The situation underscores the growing regional volatility as Iran signals its capability and willingness to target key Gulf economic and military hubs in retaliation for US actions, potentially disrupting global energy supplies and trade flows.