Iran backs Hamas in opposition to Israel and it accuses the United States of backing what it calls Israeli crimes in Gaza, the place weeks of bombardment have killed 1000’s of individuals and pushed a lot of the inhabitants from their properties.

“They shall soon await the closure of the Mediterranean Sea, (the Strait of) Gibraltar and other waterways,” Tasnim quoted Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, coordinating commander of the Guards, as saying.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group has over the previous month attacked service provider vessels crusing via the Red Sea in retaliation for Israel’s assault on Gaza, main some transport corporations to modify routes.

The White House on Friday mentioned Iran was “deeply involved” in planning operations in opposition to business vessels within the Red Sea.

Iran has no direct entry to the Mediterranean itself and it was not clear how the Guards might try to shut it off, though Naqdi talked of “the birth of new powers of resistance and the closure of other waterways”.

“Yesterday, the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz became a nightmare for them, and today they are trapped … in the Red Sea,” Naqdi was quoted as saying.

The solely teams backed by Iran on the Mediterranean are Lebanon’s Hezbollah and allied militia in Syria, on the far finish of the ocean from Gibraltar.