(Reuters) – Iran has warned Gulf states that any new U.S. attack on its territory would trigger retaliation against critical energy infrastructure across the ​region, according to five sources, as Tehran seeks to raise the cost of military action by threatening Washington’s closest regional allies.

The warning was delivered through a flurry of level diplomatic contacts after President Donald Trump threatened on 28th July to strike Iran’s energy network and infrastructure, the sources said.

Two senior Iranian officials, two Gulf sources and a senior regional diplomat with knowledge of the discussions said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi spoke with his Saudi, Turkish and Qatari counterparts, as well as Pakistan’s army chief. All spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.