Hormuz in Crisis: Iran Threatens U.S. Targets as Royal Navy Deploys

Iran has publicly warned it will target 'American centres' across the region if its oil tankers come under attack, while simultaneously signaling that post-war ties with China will deepen. The Royal Navy is repositioning HMS Dragon, a Type-45 destroyer, from the eastern Mediterranean to the Strait of Hormuz corridor to protect tankers during what is described as a partial reopening. Only two LNG tankers have crossed Hormuz en route to Japan and China, but a shortage persists. Iranian ambassador to China Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli has praised Beijing as a 'key ally' that 'stood by our people' during what he describes as a U.S.-led naval blockade, signaling post-conflict alignment.