US says 'West Asia war will end' as Iran vows 'painful response'; is there a China angle behind Washington's confidence?

Iran's chief negotiator has cautioned that the United States can anticipate a more swift, heavy, and painful retaliation if it continues its attacks. On Sunday, Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf informed American officials that the rules of engagement have changed, according to a translation of his remarks on state media.

This warning follows nearly a week of renewed clashes between the two nations, and a day after Washington announced it had targeted Iranian oil tankers after Tehran's strike on American warships in the region's waters. Iranian state media reported on Sunday that the country's naval forces had also targeted a US remotely operated vessel attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz.

However, Centcom spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins dismissed these claims as a "total lie." US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has vowed a similar response, stating on social media that if Iran targets American ships, the US will "destroy (and sink) their oil tankers." The 60-day ceasefire between the US and Iran expired last month, and the recent escalation has seen multiple attacks from both sides, including in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged the fighting will not last "too long," echoing his administration's frequent assurances since the war began six months ago. Despite months of negotiations, a lasting peace remains elusive, and the Strait of Hormuz, vital to the global oil and gas industry, has been effectively closed since the conflict's onset, becoming a potent bargaining chip for Iran.

The US military has assisted ships navigating the southern route, but Trump maintains that the strait remains open. The conflict has contributed to a rise in global gas prices, affecting American consumers as they approach the November midterm elections.