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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Thursday that it struck four ships transferring oil in the northern Persian Gulf, with all four vessels still burning, as U.S. President Donald Trump ruled out negotiations with Tehran.
The IRGC Navy reported that the vessels were carrying out ship-to-ship oil transfers along routes it described as unauthorized when they were detected and hit simultaneously.
The force also reported that three ships struck naval mines west of the Strait of Hormuz overnight, catching fire and being stopped.
The IRGC accused Washington of encouraging vessels to navigate through a mined passage, arguing that the practice was contributing to a rise in maritime accidents.
It warned that if the United States continued its approach, Iran could expand its response to include U.S. military bases across the region.
The warning comes as the conflict continues to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for global energy supplies.
The United States and Israel launched their war against Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, heavily disrupting oil and LNG shipments from the region and pushing prices higher across the world.
A memorandum of understanding signed by Washington and Tehran in June following mediation by Pakistan and Qatar has since stalled, with disagreements over navigation through the strait among the unresolved issues.
Separately, Trump ruled out negotiations with Iran on Wednesday, telling reporters after returning from a rally in South Carolina that "something one way or the other" would happen "fairly soon." He added that many expected developments after the U.S. midterm elections.
At the rally, Trump argued that Washington could end the war immediately but wanted to ensure the outcome would be lasting. He also claimed the United States had defeated Iran militarily and financially, insisting that Tehran would "never have a nuclear weapon."
Trump’s remarks followed a New York Times report that U.S. and Israeli militaries had developed plans for renewed strikes against Iran after the U.S. midterm elections.
The newspaper cited U.S. officials and others briefed on the discussions, while noting that it remained uncertain whether Trump would approve the attacks. The report also said he had repeatedly rejected plans to resume major combat operations this year.
A White House official told the newspaper that the administration does not comment on military plans "that may or may not exist."
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