Iran's Revolutionary Guard navy has warned that any attack on Iranian oil tankers or commercial vessels would be met with a "heavy assault" on one of the US bases in the region and enemy ships. Iranian state TV reported the warning on Saturday, a day after the United States struck two Iranian oil tankers, while a tenuous ceasefire appeared to be holding. Meanwhile Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's regional headquarters, said it arrested dozens of people it alleged had links to Iran's Revolutionary Guard. Friday's attacks cast doubt on the month-old ceasefire that the US has insisted is still in effect. Washington awaits Iran's response to its latest proposal for a deal to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping and roll back Tehran's disputed nuclear program.

The US military said Friday its forces disabled two Iranian tankers that were trying to breach its blockade of Iran's ports. Hours earlier, the military said it thwarted attacks on three Navy ships and struck Iranian military facilities in the strait. Bahrain said it had arrested 41 people it said are part of a group affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard. The interior ministry said investigations confirmed they were in contact with the Guard and collected funds "with the aim of sending them to Iran" to support its "terrorist operations". The small Persian Gulf island is led by a Sunni Muslim monarchy but, like Iran, has a majority Shiite population. Rights groups have said the kingdom has used the war between Iran and the US, which bases its Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, as an excuse to crack down on dissent. Iran issued a warning to Bahrain. "Siding with the US-backed resolution will bring severe consequences.