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Clerics of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) prepare for the funeral of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who passed away, at the Grand Mosalla Mosque in Tehran on July 3 (local time). / Photo courtesy of AFP via Yonhap News Agency

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a press release on July 12 (local time) announcing that it had launched a surprise strike destroying a U.S. aircraft carrier logistics support center and a refueling facility at Oman's Port of Duqm. The IRGC specified that the assault was part of a "third-stage" response to military actions targeted at southern Iran, Iranian Tasnim News Agency reported.

Prior to this latest operation, the IRGC had deployed drones and missiles against U.S. military installations located in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Both the IRGC and Iran's regular Armed Forces have warned that any additional military actions by Washington will trigger even more intense retaliation.

The military action followed just hours after U.S. forces resumed airstrikes on southern Iran. Earlier, the IRGC Navy enforced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, cautioning Washington not to use the closure as a pretext for further military provocation.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) had previously announced that it was conducting targeted strikes under instructions from U.S. President Donald Trump to neutralize Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Iran's Fars News Agency, multiple explosions were heard near the port cities of Asaluyeh and Bandar Dayyer in Iran's southern Bushehr Province just before the announcements from both sides. However, the precise targets hit and the extent of the damage remain unconfirmed.

The IRGC Navy stated that the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will remain in place indefinitely until the United States halts its military interventions in the region, Tasnim reported.

                                                                                                          Lee Jeong-eun