Iran has threatened to attack ports and shipyards across the Persian Gulf region if its own ports are attacked, responding to U.S. statements that Iranian ports used for military purposes are considered legitimate targets.
On 11 Mar 2026 GMT+7, the Iranian military warned they would target ports and shipyards throughout the region if Iranian ports were attacked first. This follows the U.S. Central Command accusing Tehran of using civilian ports along the Strait of Hormuz to carry out military operations, declaring such ports legitimate targets.
Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, senior spokesperson for the Iranian military, responded to the U.S. Central Command statement, saying, “If Iranian ports are threatened, all ports and shipyards in this region will equally become our legitimate targets.”
This warning comes amid rising tensions due to Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil is transported.
Since the United States and Israel began attacks on Iran on 28 Feb 2026, Iran has retaliated by striking targets in various countries across the Persian Gulf region and threatened to attack every ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz, effectively closing the strait.
On Wednesday (11 Mar 2026 GMT+7), three vessels were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. The Iranian military admitted to attacking two ships: the Thai-flagged cargo vessel "Mayuree Naree" and the Liberian-flagged ship "Express Rome," blaming them for ignoring their warnings not to transit the strait.
Source:cnn