Qalibaf described the threats as “reckless” in a social media post, saying Washington would gain nothing through escalation and urging respect for Iran’s rights. Iran’s mission to the United Nations said the warnings amounted to “a direct and public incitement to terrorize civilians,” calling on the international community to intervene.

The statements came as Iran has effectively halted cargo traffic through the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict, a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments. The disruption has contributed to rising energy prices and heightened volatility in international markets.

Russia also criticized Washington’s stance, urging a return to negotiations. The Russian foreign ministry, citing a call between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart, said the United States should abandon “the language of ultimatums.”

Iranian officials signaled the crisis could widen beyond the Gulf. Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, warned that allied groups could target the Bab el-Mandeb Strait at the southern entrance to the Red Sea, a route that typically handles around 12 percent of global trade.

Iran leads a network of allied groups across the region, including in Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen, where Houthi forces have previously attacked shipping lanes.Tehran has also introduced conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Presidential spokesperson Seyyed Mohammad Mehdi Tabatabaei said transit could resume only if a portion of revenues is allocated to compensate Iran for war-related damages.Trump has said the United States would strike Iranian power plants and bridges if the strait is not reopened, setting a deadline that further escalated tensions.

In remarks reported over the weekend, he reiterated the threat of military action if maritime traffic remains blocked.Iran’s culture minister Sayed Reza Salihi-Amiri dismissed the warnings, describing Trump as inconsistent and saying Iranian society does not take his statements seriously.

The standoff underscores the strategic importance of maritime chokepoints in the Middle East and the potential for disruption to ripple through global energy markets and trade networks.

Ishaq Dar said after meetings with regional counterparts that Islamabad was ready to facilitate “meaningful talks” toward a “comprehensive and lasting settlement,” including potential U.S.-Iran negotiations. It was not immediately clear whether either side had agreed to participate.

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf accused Washington of signalling openness to diplomacy while preparing for military escalation, saying Tehran would not accept demands amounting to surrender.U.S. officials have not publicly confirmed any agreement to attend talks.

Reports cited by U.S. media indicate the Pentagon is assessing options that could include ground operations, though no final decision has been announced by Donald Trump.

Discussions among regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt, have focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, where Iranian restrictions on shipping since late February have disrupted global oil flows.

The conflict has driven oil prices sharply higher and intensified risks to maritime trade, with additional threats emerging near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait following attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi forces.

Israel said it carried out more than 140 air strikes across Iran over a 24-hour period, targeting missile infrastructure and other sites. Iranian media reported damage to Mehrabad airport in Tehran and a petrochemical facility in Tabriz.

Missile and drone exchanges have extended beyond Iran, with strikes reported in southern Israel near Beersheba and damage to industrial facilities in Gulf states including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran’s heavy water production plant at Khondab had suffered severe damage and was no longer operational, though it contained no declared nuclear material.

The U.S. military has begun deploying thousands of Marines to the region, with the first contingent arriving aboard an amphibious assault ship, according to official statements.

Washington last week proposed a ceasefire framework that included reopening Hormuz and limiting Iran’s nuclear programme, but Tehran rejected the plan.

The conflict has triggered domestic political divisions in the United States, with protests reported in multiple cities and lawmakers offering sharply differing views on the war’s trajectory.