Iran has escalated tensions in the Middle East by declaring commercial shipping and maritime infrastructure as potential legitimate targets in the event of a US military attack on Tehran.
In a strongly worded address to parliament on Sunday, Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf directly warned US President Donald Trump that any American military action would trigger a broad response.
“We do not limit ourselves to responding only after an action. In the event of a US military attack, both the occupied territories and US military and shipping centres will be legitimate targets for us,” Ghalibaf said.
The remarks position global shipping, already navigating heightened risks in key regions, as a potential front in the widening confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel.
The statement comes against a backdrop of intensifying domestic unrest in Iran.
Protests that erupted in late December in Tehran's Grand Bazaar over the sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial have spread to other cities. US President Trump commented over the weekend that Iranians were “looking at freedom” and indicated Washington was prepared to offer support.
Iran has a documented history of actions against commercial vessels, including jamming Automatic Identification System (AIS) signals, seizing ships, and detaining crews. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, rejected US accusations that Tehran was fuelling unrest, warning those who “enable arson” would face consequences.
Lars Jensen, head of container shipping consultancy Vespucci Maritime, suggested via LinkedIn that regime change in Iran could end support for Yemen's Houthis, accelerating a return to normal Suez Canal routing. He said lifting sanctions could open Iran's market to expanded direct container services.
Greek broker Ursa Shipbrokers warned of broader uncertainty in a client advisory note, where it said: “2026 seems to be a year of precedents which are coming as hard and fast as they are to digest.
“The implications are unclear, but we are uneasy as these new precedents become the new normal very, very quickly.”
No immediate incidents have been tied to the latest warnings, but the rhetoric raises fresh concerns for operators transiting near Iranian waters.
Source: Splash247
