The Central Headquarters of Khatam al-Anbiya said in a statement that the United States during the past three days has been pursuing the “illegal maritime blockade of Iran” by threatening vessels, commercial ships and Iranian oil tankers in coastal and territorial waters.

The statement said that the threats to Iranian vessels and oil tankers are considered “an expansion of the war” in the region, and that the forces of the Islamic Republic will respond to any threat from the U.S. Army.