Iran has warned Gulf Arab states that any new United States military strikes against Iranian territory could trigger retaliatory attacks on critical energy and infrastructure facilities across the region, even as Washington and Tehran continue signaling that a potential agreement to ease tensions in the Strait of Hormuz may be within reach. However, analysts caution that significant differences remain and that either side would need to make major concessions before a final deal can be reached.
According to Reuters, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi conveyed the warning through diplomatic channels to Gulf governments, urging them to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump against launching further attacks on Iran. Tehran reportedly warned that any renewed U.S. assault would be met with strikes targeting oil refineries, power plants, desalination facilities, and other strategic infrastructure in neighboring Gulf states that support Washington’s military presence.
The warning follows recent threats by President Trump to order additional strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure if negotiations fail. While the United States has maintained military pressure, Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman have reportedly encouraged Washington to pursue diplomacy rather than risk another escalation that could destabilize the region and global energy markets.
At the center of the negotiations is the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime chokepoints through which roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments normally pass. The waterway has remained a major source of international concern after months of conflict disrupted commercial shipping and drove up insurance costs for vessels operating in the Gulf.
Both Washington and Tehran have publicly expressed optimism that an agreement to restore normal navigation through the strait is nearing completion. President Trump has suggested that a settlement could be reached soon, while Iranian officials have indicated that progress has been made through Omani mediation.
Despite the positive rhetoric, negotiators remain divided over several key issues.
Reuters reported that one proposal would place inbound shipping under Iranian supervision while outbound traffic would be coordinated with Oman. However, disagreements persist over inspection procedures, shipping fees, and broader security arrangements. The United States opposes Iranian plans to impose cargo fees, while Tehran insists on compensation mechanisms and has linked any reopening of the waterway to the removal of U.S. restrictions on Iranian ports.
Iran has also continued to deny that it is engaged in direct negotiations with Washington, maintaining that its discussions are taking place through intermediaries, primarily Oman. U.S. officials, meanwhile, continue to express confidence that diplomacy can produce a broader agreement aimed at preventing further military confrontation.
Security analysts note that the gap between the public statements of both governments and the unresolved negotiating points suggests that neither side has yet secured terms acceptable to the other. They say a durable agreement would likely require either Washington to soften some of its demands regarding maritime operations or Tehran to scale back its conditions on control of shipping and associated fees.
The outcome of the negotiations is being closely watched by governments and financial markets worldwide, as any renewed disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could significantly affect global oil supplies, shipping costs, and energy prices. Until a formal and verifiable agreement is implemented, uncertainty over one of the world’s most vital energy corridors is expected to remain high.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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