“Any attack on Iranian tankers and commercial vessels will result in a heavy attack on one of the American centres in the region and enemy ships,” the IRGC said, one day after US strikes on two Iranian tankers in the Gulf of Oman.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he expected Iran’s response to Washington’s latest peace proposal “supposedly tonight.” However, if Tehran sent a reply through Pakistani mediators, there was no public indication of it.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also questioned the reliability of the US leadership during a phone call with his Turkish counterpart.

“The recent escalation of tensions by American forces in the Persian Gulf and their numerous actions in violating the ceasefire have added to suspicions about the motivation and seriousness of the American side in the path of diplomacy,” Araghchi said, according to an Iranian account of the conversation published by ISNA.

On Friday, a US fighter jet reportedly fired on and disabled two Iranian-flagged tankers that Washington accused of challenging its blockade of Iranian ports. An Iranian military official later told local media that the navy had responded with retaliatory strikes.

The incident followed another escalation the previous night in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international shipping route that Iran is seeking to control in order to gain economic leverage over the United States and its allies. Washington has repeatedly stated that it is unacceptable for Tehran to control the crucial oil passage.

The United States has reportedly sent Iran, through Pakistani mediators, a proposal to extend the Gulf truce in order to allow negotiations toward a final settlement of the conflict, which began 10 weeks ago following US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

Reporter Margot Haddad of French broadcaster LCI said on Saturday that Trump told her in a brief interview he still expected to receive Iran’s answer “very soon.”

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday that the proposal was still “under review.” (Bssnews)