Iranian Military Chief Says U.S. Warships Will Be Barred From Persian Gulf

Major General Abdollahi warned Saturday that Iran would prevent U.S. warships from returning to the Persian Gulf. The statement identified him as armed-forces chief of staff and commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters. It did not document an attempted U.S. entry or a new naval confrontation. Two days earlier, President Donald Trump accused Iran of inventing reports of maritime attacks and mines to raise oil prices before the U.S. midterm election. Trump also claimed oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz exceeded pre-conflict levels.