Iran military says ships of US, Israel, allies in Hormuz strait 'legitimate targets'

Iran's military on Wednesday said any ships belonging to the United States, Israel or their allies passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz will be targeted.

"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 broadcast on state TV.

It reiterated that Iran's armed forces "will not allow a single liter of oil to transit" through the strait, adding that the "closure of this strait is the result of conditions imposed by the U.S. and the Zionist regime," referring to Israel.

On Feb. 28, Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, killing its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering war which spread across the Middle East.

Iran responded by targeting Israel and U.S. interests across the region.