US officials warn Iran over Hormuz attacks and rebuke Pakistan's pro‑Iran comments

U.S. Senator Rick Scott condemned Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s praise of Iran’s late supreme leader, calling Pakistan "the country where al‑Qaeda’s senior figure Osama bin Laden hid for years" and warning that Washington is watching Islamabad closely. At the same time, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance accused Iran of breaching a recent agreement on free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by resuming attacks on commercial vessels. Vance said any further aggression would provoke “a stronger military response than before,” emphasizing that keeping the strait open is vital for global oil and gas supplies. Both remarks were made in Washington in early July, reflecting heightened U.S. scrutiny of Iran’s maritime actions and Pakistan’s diplomatic stance toward Tehran.