TEHRAN (VINnews)  Iran on Thursday labeled the Strait of Hormuz an inviolable “red line,” warning that any U.S. strikes on its infrastructure — including power plants and bridges targeted by President Donald J. Trump — would prompt retaliatory attacks on critical targets across the Gulf region.

The declaration follows four straight days of U.S. strikes on Iranian military sites and the reimposition of a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Washington has said its actions aim to restore freedom of navigation through the vital waterway after repeated Iranian attacks on commercial shipping.

Iranian officials insisted that their control of the strait does not rely on coastal bases or islands, claiming Tehran can maintain dominance from positions deeper within its territory. They reiterated demands that the U.S. comply with a previously signed memorandum of understanding and accept Iranian regulations on vessel transits before the strait can reopen.

The escalating rhetoric comes as the regional conflict broadens rapidly. Iran has launched missile and drone attacks against U.S. forces and partners in Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain. Analysts have warned that Tehran could further pressure global trade by directing its Houthi allies in Yemen to expand operations into the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, handles about one-fifth of global oil shipments. Disruptions there have historically sent energy prices soaring and heightened tensions throughout the Middle East.