Iranian forces have declared ships in the Strait of Hormuz belonging to the US, Israel and their allies are ‘legitimate targets’ following three fires on commercial vessels earlier today.

‘Any vessel whose oil cargo or the vessel itself belongs to the United States, the Zionist regime or their hostile allies will be considered legitimate targets,’ said the military’s central operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, in a statement carried by state TV.

It reiterated that Iran’s armed forces ‘will not allow a single litre of oil to transit’ through the strait, adding that the ‘closure of this strait is the result of conditions imposed by the US and the Zionist regime,’ referring to Israel.

Meanwhile, Iran has also accused the United States and Israel of striking a maritime ambulance boat at an island in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, local media reported.

‘Following the US-Zionist attacks this afternoon, a maritime ambulance stationed at the dock of Hormuz Island was hit by missiles,’ Mehr news agency reported, showing footage of the boat on fire.

It said the vessel transports emergency patients from the island to Bandar Abbas in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province. Other media carried similar reports.