Iran's escalation options as US sanctions tighten

Iran has threatened to halt all oil exports from the Persian Gulf if the US imposes "the toughest sanctions in history," escalating a conflict that has already disrupted global energy markets. Iranian attacks and threats have largely stopped traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which previously carried about a fifth of global energy, and Tehran blacklisted 45 tankers on Sunday for non-compliance. Iran could target Gulf energy infrastructure, power plants, or desalination facilities, while Western countries face cyberattacks and alleged assassination plots from Iran-linked operatives.