War Update: Iran Issues New Threat to the US - Faster and More Painful
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The war in the Middle East has heated up once more after Iran issued a fresh threat to the United States (US). Tensions are rising amid attacks by both sides and economic pressure brought about by Washington’s sanctions.
Tehran warned that any subsequent attack on Iranian interests would be met with a faster and more painful response. The warning was underscored by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who said the rules of engagement in the conflict with the United States had changed.
“From now on, every attack on Iran’s interests and security will receive a faster, heavier and more painful response,” he said in a speech published via his Telegram channel, as quoted by Reuters on Monday (7/8/2026).
The warning came after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had attacked three Iranian tanker ships on Saturday. The strikes were described as a response to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launching ballistic missiles at two US Navy vessels in the Middle East region.
The IRGC subsequently threatened to step up attacks on US naval vessels in the area. Meanwhile, the IRGC Navy warned that ships traversing the waters without permission could become targets.
“If you fire on two of our ships, we will impose a far higher economic cost by disabling three of yours,” said CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper.
Tension has also flared around Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub. Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad said the island had been attacked around 550 times in recent months, but its operations were still running. Before the war, some 90 per cent of Iran’s crude oil exports were shipped through Kharg.
Amid the military escalation, pressure on Iran’s economy is growing heavier still due to the oil export blockade and US efforts to tighten sanctions enforcement. Qalibaf said Iran’s battle is now being fought not only on the battlefield, but also concerns production and people’s livelihoods, including tackling inflation, unemployment, currency turmoil and market management.
Meanwhile, Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh said the government would respond to this pressure through economic reform. Deputy Economy Minister Morteza Zamanian also said his ministry’s “Economic War Headquarters” was stepping up efforts to deal with the effects of the war.
“The responsibility for reforming Iran’s economy lies with the government and its people, not the US Treasury Department,” said Madanizadeh, as quoted by Iranian state media.
Iran had previously also imposed a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route that before the conflict carried roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies. The move could put further pressure on the world energy market as the conflict escalates.
Meanwhile, Tasnim reported that four US missiles struck a tanker in the Kharg anchorage area without causing any casualties. On Sunday, the IRGC also claimed to have shot down a US surveillance balloon over Erbil in northern Iraq, signalling that the conflict between the two countries could be entering an increasingly intense phase once again.