Iran's top negotiator threatens 'faster, more intense' response to US attacks
Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned of a 'faster and more intense' response to US military actions following recent clashes in the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation follows US strikes on Iranian-linked tankers and subsequent Iranian retaliation against US naval assets.
Why it matters
The ongoing maritime conflict in the Strait of Hormuz poses a significant risk to global oil supply chains and regional geopolitical stability.
AFP Vessels transit the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of the port city of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on September 5, 2026. AFP Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened on Sunday to launch swifter and more forceful responses to US attacks, after Tehran targeted American warships in retaliation for US attacks on tankers.
"The Americans must have understood that the era of proportionate responses has come to an end," said Ghalibaf in a speech carried by state media, adding that "any aggression against Iran's interests and security will receive a faster, more intense and more painful response".
Iran retaliates after US strikes oil tankers
Iran said Sunday that its forces attacked a US naval drone trying to enter the Strait of Hormuz, hours after targeting ships in retaliation for American strikes on three oil tankers.
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