Washington and Tehran trade threats over ships and oil tankers

US and Iranian officials traded threats over ships and oil tankers. The US Central Command chief said the United States would not hesitate to defend its forces and, if necessary, would destroy Iran's limited and exposed oil fleet. The US war minister said that if Iran opened fire on US ships, Iranian oil tankers would be destroyed. In response, the spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned the US military that if its hostile acts continue, including harassing Iranian ships and imposing a naval blockade on Iran, Iranian armed forces' strikes against US warships in the region will be stronger than before and may expand further.