US President Donald Trump declared the return of a naval blockade on Iranian ports on Monday, saying Washington would impose hefty fees on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz as fighting once again flared over the vital waterway.
In a counter to Trump, Iran's military command insisted it would not allow the US to "interfere" in the key conduit for oil and gas, while also warning its Gulf neighbours — who have borne the brunt of Tehran's attacks — against cooperating with Washington.
The competing claims came as the two sides traded attacks of a scale unseen since an April ceasefire. The US military said it hit dozens of targets on Monday, while Iran's IRGC announced new strikes in response on Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Oman.
The Strait of Hormuz was not an issue before the Iran war broke out in February, and passage through it was free.
However, Tehran subsequently blocked the waterway and now sees it as essential leverage over Washington.
