Tensions rise between the USA and Iran, violence rises in Strait of Hormuz clashes

"Americans must have realized that the era of proportionate response is over," Kalibaf said in his speech, which was broadcast on state media. The Iranian official said, "Every attack on Iran's interests and security will receive a faster, more intense and more painful response."

While the diplomatic stalemate continues in the six-month-long conflict between the USA and Iran, tension intensifies especially around the Strait of Hormuz. While Iran maintains its control over the strategic strait, Washington continues its countermeasures against Iranian ports.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that Iran targeted an aircraft carrier and a destroyer on Saturday, but the attacks were unsuccessful.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed that the American warships were damaged and had to withdraw. CENTCOM rejected this claim and reported that the ships managed to escape the attacks.

The US military then announced that it had shot down three oil tankers that it said were linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. CENTCOM reported that two of the tankers were rendered unusable and the third was completely destroyed in the Gulf of Oman.

The US side argued that the ships were part of a multibillion-dollar "shadow network" financing the Revolutionary Guard and Iran's allies in the region.