Iran has issued a stark warning to the United States, stating that any interference in the Strait of Hormuz would provoke a "decisive and rapid" response.
Tehran cited the continued presence of US air assets in the waterway as a direct threat to regional security, signaling a hardening of its stance on foreign military activity in the critical shipping corridor.
The escalation adds to mounting pressure on global energy markets, where traders are already pricing in elevated geopolitical risk.
Brent crude futures faced renewed volatility as investors assessed the potential for further disruptions to oil and LNG flows.
The Strait of Hormuz remains the world's most vital energy chokepoint, handling roughly a fifth of global oil consumption, making any threat to its free navigation a significant market catalyst.
This latest warning follows a series of aggressive moves by Iran to assert control over the waterway.