The declaration came as Tehran’s Yemeni allies, the Houthi rebel group, threatened to expand the war yet further by announcing it would blockade Saudi ports, putting at risk Riyadh’s ability to bypass the Strait of Hormuz for some of its oil exports.
Throughout the war, which began in late February, Iran has targeted what it says are US assets across the region, with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) saying on Monday it had hit targets in Bahrain, Jordan and Syria.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said: “The reality is that today the Islamic Republic of Iran is engaged in a full-scale war.”
His comments came after state media and local authorities reported US strikes in the north and centre of the country.
The Middle East war resumed after a weeks-long lull prompted by an agreement signed in June, and oil prices surged to a one-month high as the foes battled to control the vital Strait of Hormuz.
As its truce with the US collapsed, Tehran reimposed its blockade of the waterway, while Washington reimposed a blockade of Iran’s ports.
Saudi Arabia has been able to continue exporting millions of barrels of oil a day despite the Hormuz blockade - although far below its prewar totals - via its Red Sea port of Yanbu.
Oil markets have for months feared that the Houthis would return to attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, potentially cutting off yet more crude from global markets.
The Houthis, at war with Riyadh for more than a decade as part of Yemen’s civil war, did not say how they would enforce their blockade.
Riyadh and the Houthis exchanged fire for the first time in years last week, as their frozen conflict reignited over a dispute involving Iran.
In Hormuz, meanwhile, sailors abandoned a vessel set on fire in an attack, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency.
The IRGC had earlier said two oil tankers trying to transit the strait “exploded and were brought to a halt”, according to a statement reported by Tasnim news agency.
On Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on countries around the world to share the burden of protecting global shipping.
US Central Command (Centcom) said it successfully completed the ninth consecutive night of strikes against Iran, while Rubio said he would “continue to try” to reach a diplomatic solution.
President Donald Trump said US strikes on Iran “hit them very hard” in honour of the American fatalities.
- AFP