Iran has issued a fresh warning to the United States, threatening a "devastating response" to what it describes as American "adventures" in the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement marks a sharp escalation in rhetoric from Tehran, which continues to cite the presence of US military assets in the waterway as the primary driver of regional instability.
Earlier today, Brent crude surged past $80, reflecting the market's assessment that the risk of physical disruption to energy flows remains acute.
The threat comes as commercial shipping through the chokepoint has effectively ground to a halt.
Earlier today, Brent crude surged past $80, reflecting the market's assessment that the risk of physical disruption to energy flows remains acute.
With tanker traffic at near-zero levels, the premium for shipping risk is embedded in energy prices, and any further deterioration in the security outlook could trigger another leg up in oil and freight rates.
This development follows a series of warnings from Iran's armed forces, which previously stated that any unauthorized US interference would trigger a swift military response.