Iran has warned that further US attacks could trigger a “faster, heavier and more painful response” as fighting between the two countries intensifies.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Americans should understand that the “rules of the game have changed,” according to state media.
The warning comes after the US said it struck Iranian oil tankers in response to attacks on American warships in the region. Iran also claimed its navy targeted a US remote-controlled vessel near the Strait of Hormuz, though US Central Command denied the report.
Fighting resumed after a 60-day ceasefire expired last month, with both sides carrying out strikes across the region.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major focus of the conflict because of its importance to global oil and gas shipments. Disruptions have contributed to higher energy prices, increasing pressure on the US government ahead of the November midterm elections.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said around nine million barrels of oil per day were moving through the strait, suggesting regional energy flows are beginning to recover.