Iran’s top negotiator on Sunday threatened a more forceful response to any further US attacks after Tehran targeted American warships in their latest round of clashes.
asserted
Tehran → threaten → clashes
The exchanges of fire, which began with US raids last week, come amid a deadlock in the six-month war between the two foes.
asserted
which → begin → foes
Iran has maintained its stranglehold on the strategic Strait of Hormuz while Washington continues a counter-blockade of Iranian ports.
asserted
Washington → maintain → ports
Washington is also seeking to choke Iran’s economy, rolling out sanctions on entities with financial links to the country in a bid to force it into submission.
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Washington → seek → submission
“The Americans must have understood that the era of proportionate responses has come to an end,” said Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has acted as chief negotiator in talks to end the war.
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who → understand → war
“Any aggression against Iran’s interests and security will receive a faster, more intense and more painful response,” he added, in a speech carried by state media.
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he → receive → media
On Saturday, US Central Command (Centcom), which oversees American military operations in the region, said Iran had unsuccessfully fired at two American warships — an aircraft carrier and a destroyer.
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Iran → oversee → warships
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the ideological arm of Iran’s military, said the warships had been “forced to retreat” after “suffering damage”, but Centcom said they successfully evaded the attacks.
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they → say → attacks
In response, the US military said it struck three oil tankers linked to the Iranian Guards.
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it → say → Guards
Centcom said it had “permanently disabled” one ship off the coast of the oil hub of Kharg Island and another near Jask, and “completely destroyed” a third vessel in the Gulf of Oman.
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it → say → Oman
Video posted by the military showed large fireballs and billowing flames after projectiles slammed into the ships.
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projectiles → post → ships
The three vessels were “part of a multibillion-dollar shadow network that funds the IRGC and its regional proxies”, Centcom said.
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Centcom → fund → IRGC
Iran quickly retaliated, with the Guards saying their naval forces “targeted three oil tankers on the unauthorised route of the Strait of Hormuz and three vessels affiliated with the child-killing America in other areas”.
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forces → retaliate → areas
It warned ships not to attempt to transit the key trade waterway via routes unapproved by Tehran.
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It → warn → Tehran
Early on Sunday, Iran’s IRGC also said it attacked a US naval drone trying to enter the strait, according to a statement carried by state television.
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it → say → television
Centcom spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins, however, called the claim “a complete lie”.
uncertain
Hawkins → call → claim
“No US vessels have been attacked today,” he said.
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he → attack → ?
‘Clinging on to power’
Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper had said after the exchange of strikes: “If you shoot at two of our ships, we will impose an even higher economic cost — taking out three of yours.”
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we → cling → yours
The Iranian foreign ministry condemned the attacks on its oil tankers as “illegal and aggressive actions”.
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ministry → condemn → actions
The administration of US President Donald Trump has tried to downplay the significance of the six-month conflict, which has proven increasingly unpopular at home as midterm elections near.
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elections → try → home
US Vice President JD Vance has gone so far as to say that he “wouldn’t call it a war”.
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he → go → it
Trump reiterated that view on Friday, calling the war “small potatoes” for Washington.
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Trump → reiterate → Washington
Iranian officials have so far maintained their defiant tone, but US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told ABC’s “This Week” programme on Sunday that Iran was “doing everything they can to cling on to something”.
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they → maintain → something
“They know their nuclear programme’s coming to an end.
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programme → know → end
Their navy has come to an end.
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navy → come → end
Their air force has come to an end.
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force → come → end
They’re clinging on to power,” he said.
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he → cling → power
A fragile ceasefire between the two sides collapsed in July after attacks on commercial ships in the Hormuz strait, through which one-fifth of world oil supplies previously flowed.
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fifth → collapse → supplies
Trump has in recent weeks repeatedly threatened to claim sovereignty over the strait, even posting a map showing it as “new US territory”.
uncertain
Trump → threaten → territory
Vance has insisted the US will not reopen talks with Iran until it ends attacks on commercial shipping in the strait.
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it → insist → strait
The Aporia
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