Hyderabad, May 10 -- Iran has warned of a "heavy assault" against American assets in the Middle East if its oil tankers or commercial vessels are further targeted amid escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Any further aggression" against Iranian oil tankers and commercial ships would result in a "heavy assault against one of the American centres in the region," the Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) naval command said.

Iranian state television also quoted the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force as saying that missiles and drones had been locked onto US targets across the region and were awaiting orders to launch.

"We are awaiting the order to fire," the commander said.

The threat comes on the 72nd day of the US-...