Iran Vows Retaliation After US Naval Buildup in Persian Gulf

Iran's Supreme National Security Council has issued a stark warning following the deployment of additional US naval assets to the Persian Gulf region, calling the move "provocative" and pledging a "decisive response" if sovereignty is threatened.

The Pentagon confirmed that the USS Eisenhower carrier strike group has entered the Strait of Hormuz, joining existing naval forces in what officials describe as a "routine freedom of navigation" operation.

Rising Tensions

The deployment comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with multiple incidents involving Iranian fast boats approaching US vessels in recent weeks. The Pentagon has called these encounters "unsafe and unprofessional."

Military analysts say the naval buildup represents the largest US military presence in the Gulf since 2020, signaling Washington's commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation in one of the world's most strategically important waterways.

Diplomatic Efforts

The United Nations Secretary-General has called on both nations to exercise maximum restraint and return to dialogue. Several Gulf states have offered to mediate, with Oman reportedly facilitating backchannel communications between Washington and Tehran.