Tensions have risen in the Persian Gulf after Iran’s elite military force warned it could respond strongly to any interference with its maritime operations.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it would target U.S. military positions in the Middle East and strike vessels it considers hostile if Iranian oil tankers or commercial ships are attacked or blocked.

The warning comes as friction continues around the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. Reports say recent naval confrontations have increased tensions between Iranian and U.S. forces in the area.

Iran has tightened control over the waterway in recent months, limiting movement of ships linked to certain countries after earlier strikes. In response, the United States has increased its naval presence and introduced measures affecting vessels connected to Iranian ports.

The IRGC also claimed its missile and drone systems are ready to respond to targets in the region if ordered, raising concerns that the situation could escalate further and disrupt one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.