Iran’s parliament speaker has issued a stark warning that, should the US launch a military strike, American and Israeli ‘shipping centres’ would be considered legitimate targets for retaliation.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf made the comments from the parliamentary floor in Tehran amid escalating tensions over widespread protests and threats of foreign intervention.
The comments came as President Donald Trump weighs potential responses to weeks of anti-government demonstrations in Iran, which have drawn heavy crackdowns by security forces.
While Trump has signalled that he might order a military response if protesters are killed, U.S. officials have stressed that no final decision has been made and that diplomacy remains a priority.
Meanwhile, Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that the US will impose a 25 percent tariff on imports from any country that continues to trade with Iran, effective immediately. The president described the measure as “final and conclusive,” though details on enforcement and legal authority have not been fully disclosed.
It is not yet clear which countries will be most affected by the tariff, but Iran’s largest trading partners include China, Turkey, Iraq, the UAE and India, suggesting the policy could have broad global economic implications.
The tariff announcement adds to existing trade uncertainty at a time when the US Supreme Court is poised to rule on the legality of Trump’s broader tariff regime — a decision that could come as early as this week and further influence international markets.
If you have any questions regarding the above, then Westbound are here to help. So, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Become a Westbound VIP
From simpler bookings, communication, and collaboration to reporting, insights, and more, our intuitive cloud platform puts everything in one place. So you get control, efficiency, and transparency, and a launchpad for your supply chain.
Related Posts
18/02/2026
Blanked Sailings Surge As Weak Post Chinese New Year Demand Expected
Ocean freight stakeholders are bracing…


