Iran unveils 'preemptive strike' doctrine as Gulf shipping tensions spike

Iranian state media reported on Monday that a newly showcased ballistic missile embodies a more assertive military doctrine: Tehran will now "take action against any threat, even before it is carried out."

The announcement, which cited comments by Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, centers on the solid-fueled Qassem Basir missile. Rezaei claimed the weapon had been "tested" against a U.S. warship, though it remains unclear if that test involved the specific missile described in the latest report.

The U.S. military said on Saturday that it had struck three Iranian oil tankers after ballistic missiles were launched at American warships, which it said evaded the attack. Analysts have described the launch as a dangerous escalation, noting that previous Iranian attacks at sea during the six-month-old war had targeted commercial shipping.

Iranian media described the Qassem Basir as a "turning point" in the country's defense strategy, citing its greater range, accuracy, and a half-ton warhead. The missile was first unveiled last year with a stated range of at least 1,200 kilometers (745 miles).

Tensions are also rising over the Strait of Hormuz. Rezaei has announced plans to create an "exclusion zone" near the waterway, directing vessels to follow a route chosen by Tehran. The White House responded that the strait remains open and under U.S. control, adding that the Navy has cleared mines and that tanker traffic to non-Iranian ports will increase. A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports continues, and the military reports that 94 commercial vessels have been redirected, with three disabled.

Rezaei acknowledged that the U.S. has been assisting a limited number of ships on a route off Oman, saying Tehran is not sinking them due to environmental concerns over oil spills.

Data from global commerce firm Kpler shows that transits through the strait dropped sharply last week. The uncertainty follows an attack on a Saudi-owned tanker that killed two crew members, with seven still unaccounted for—potentially the deadliest strike on a commercial vessel since the war began on February 28.

Gulf frustration is mounting. Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said at a forum in Abu Dhabi that "no single state" should control the strait, insisting that energy exports and trade will not be held hostage. The UAE, a close U.S. ally, has faced repeated Iranian missile and drone fire and suspended all trade with Iran last month. Gargash warned that rebuilding trust could take decades.

Nabil Fahmy, secretary-general of the Arab League, echoed the sentiment at a Cairo meeting, stating that maritime corridors will not become "a bargaining chip in the calculations of others" and condemning Iranian attacks on Gulf nations.