Pentagon warns civilians to avoid Iranian ports used for military operations while oil prices surge amid regional escalation.
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US Central Command warned civilians Wednesday to avoid all Iranian port facilities, citing their use for military operations that would make them legitimate targets under international law. Iran's Revolutionary Guards immediately threatened massive retaliation if ports are struck. The warning comes as tensions escalate around the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The confrontation follows nearly two weeks of joint US-Israeli airstrikes that have killed around 2,000 people, mostly Iranians and Lebanese, spreading conflict into Lebanon. Iran has responded by attacking merchant ships, severely disrupting global shipping through one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints.
Iran warned oil could reach $200 per barrel as the crisis unfolds, prompting the International Energy Agency to recommend a massive release of strategic reserves. The current shock ranks among the worst since the 1970s oil crises, throwing global energy markets and transport networks into chaos.
The escalation threatens to draw more nations into the conflict while potentially triggering broader economic consequences. Countries are already tapping emergency oil reserves to prevent further market disruption, but continued attacks on shipping could force even more dramatic interventions to stabilize global energy supplies.