Tehran, September 6, 2026: Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned that any further US aggression against Iran’s interests and security would draw a faster, heavier and more painful response, as tensions between Tehran and Washington continue to escalate.
According to Iran’s ISNA news agency, Ghalibaf said the United States had realised that the era of “proportionate responses” had ended.
He said Iranian military strikes against US bases had left American leaders in a state of “utter helplessness,” according to Iran’s IRNA news agency.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said its Aerospace Force had targeted a US aircraft carrier and a Navy destroyer with ballistic missiles, claiming both vessels were damaged and subsequently withdrew from the area.
The IRGC, in a statement carried by IRNA, said the US warships had allegedly harassed Iranian vessels and were participating in a maritime blockade. It claimed both ships left the “engagement area” after sustaining damage.
The Guards also said US Central Command (CENTCOM) had acknowledged that two US Navy warships were targeted, describing the statement as confirmation of the operation. The IRGC warned that continued US military action would result in heavier responses from Iran.
In a separate statement, the IRGC Navy said it had attacked a remotely operated US military vessel that it alleged was attempting to enter a protected area of the Strait of Hormuz. It did not provide details about the nature of the attack or say whether the vessel was damaged.
The Guards reiterated Tehran’s position that the Strait of Hormuz was under Iranian management and called for US forces to leave the region.
Earlier, the IRGC Navy said it had targeted three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and three US-linked vessels elsewhere in response to American attacks on Iranian tankers.
CENTCOM, however, said Iran had launched ballistic missiles towards two US Navy warships patrolling regional waters, adding that both vessels evaded the attacks and no US personnel were injured.
The US military said its forces subsequently struck three Iranian crude oil tankers.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Sunday condemned renewed Israeli strikes on the southern city of Nabatieh and surrounding areas, describing attacks on state institutions and health facilities as a “dangerous escalation.”
According to a statement issued by the Lebanese presidency, Aoun said the attacks had caused civilian casualties, severely damaged a Finance Ministry building and destroyed Ghandour Hospital.
He said the strikes went beyond repeated violations of the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement by targeting Lebanese state institutions, public service facilities, hospitals and health centres.
Aoun said the attack on the Finance Ministry building, following an earlier strike on a State Security centre that caused fatalities, reflected what he described as a continuing pattern of attacks extending beyond alleged military targets to civilian government and health facilities.
He accused Israel of seeking to disrupt Lebanese institutions and essential public services.
The Lebanese president held Israel responsible for the continuing escalation and called on the United States and the international community to take urgent action to halt the attacks and hold those responsible accountable.
He reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to measures aimed at preserving its sovereignty, stability in the south and the safety of its citizens.
US Central Command said on Sunday that American forces had redirected 92 commercial vessels while enforcing a maritime blockade against Iran.
“As of Sept. 6, US forces have redirected 92 commercial vessels, disabled 3 and boarded 2 to ensure strict compliance,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X.
The command also said a US Air Force F-35A stealth fighter jet was conducting patrols over regional waters.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed regional developments and the latest developments in negotiations with the United States during a telephone conversation, according to reports.
The two ministers held a comprehensive discussion on the ongoing negotiations with Washington and exchanged views on the evolving regional situation.
The IRGC also warned that the US economic and maritime blockade against Iran could ultimately cost Washington several times more than Tehran.
IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohibi told Mehr News Agency that if the United States sought to inflict one dollar in economic damage on Iran, it could face several dollars in costs and losses itself.
He said Iran would not surrender to sanctions and pressure, claiming that US President Donald Trump had underestimated Tehran’s ability to withstand military and economic pressure.
Mohibi argued that the United States, which he said was already facing significant debt and economic competition from China and other countries, would find it difficult to prevail in what he described as an economic war against Iran.
He also claimed that regional developments had placed pressure on US strategic reserves and disrupted access to some raw materials.
The possibility of further US military action against Iran’s Kharg Island has also emerged as a major source of concern.
On August 31, President Trump posted a social media message accompanied by an AI-generated video depicting Kharg Island being destroyed. Iranian authorities subsequently warned that any attack on the strategically important island would trigger a strong response.
Iran is a major OPEC oil producer, and Kharg Island has historically handled the overwhelming majority of the country’s crude oil exports. Oil flows have been disrupted amid the US blockade of Iranian oil exports.
Trump had previously spoken about attacking or taking control of Kharg Island, but later indicated that a US military operation against the island was not being pursued.
Any attack on Kharg Island could put further pressure on Iran’s oil industry and wider economy, which is already facing the impact of sanctions and the maritime blockade.
The confrontation has also raised concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor through which a significant share of the world’s oil supply traditionally passes.
Global oil markets have responded to the heightened tensions, with Brent crude futures closing at $96.28 a barrel on Friday, their highest level since July 24, amid growing concerns over potential disruptions to global energy supplies.
