TEHRAN, Iran: Iran-US tensions intensified as senior officials warned of heavier retaliation against future attacks and announced plans for a restricted shipping zone in the Persian Gulf.
Iran said it attacked two U.S. military vessels with ballistic missiles on Saturday. American forces responded by striking three Iranian oil tankers.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran would no longer limit itself to what he called “proportionate responses.” He warned that further attacks on Iranian interests would draw faster and stronger retaliation.
Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei then announced plans for a restricted shipping zone in the Persian Gulf. The proposal would extend beyond Iran’s efforts to control traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The warnings come as a U.S. naval blockade restricts Iranian oil exports, a major source of government revenue. U.S. naval escorts have also allowed some commercial vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Read: US Strikes Iranian 5 Tankers After Missile Attacks, CENTCOM says
Senior Iranian officials have said they remain open to returning to an April memorandum intended to halt fighting and lead toward nuclear talks.
SECRETARY RUBIO: Iran continues to try to hit U.S. naval ships, and every time they try to do that, they're going to lose tankers. pic.twitter.com/IFo46Vh9GR
— Department of State (@StateDept) September 8, 2026President Donald Trump, however, has said he does not want renewed negotiations. On Tuesday, Iranian state media said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seized a U.S. underwater drone known as the Dive-LD.
U.S. Central Command said the vehicle had malfunctioned and carried no sensitive data or classified sonar or radar equipment.
Hours later, a U.S. official said American forces struck additional Iranian oil tankers after another attempted attack on a U.S. Navy warship. Iranian state media said vessels were hit near Kharg Island and Jask.
