Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a fresh and sharply worded warning to the United States, threatening retaliation against American naval assets and signalling a broader regional
response if Washington undertakes any new military action.
A senior political official from the IRGC Navy said Tehran would mobilise the wider “Resistance Front” — a network of Iran-aligned groups across West Asia — in the event of renewed US aggression, underlining the risk of a multi-front escalation.
“We will employ the capabilities of the Resistance Front in the event Washington commits a new act of aggression,” the official said.
The warning escalated further with a direct threat aimed at US maritime forces. “If America miscalculates again, we will burn its giant ships at sea,” the IRGC Navy’s political deputy said, adding that any response would involve “surprises and new capabilities”.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with Tehran’s latest proposal, indicating that Washington is unwilling to move forward without addressing the nuclear issue upfront. He also claimed that Iran had conveyed it was in a “state of collapse” and was seeking the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz “as soon as possible”.
Trump also warned of the broader global risks posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stating that if Tehran were to acquire such weapons, “the whole world would be held hostage”.
Iran’s latest proposal, according to reports, focuses on an immediate ceasefire in West Asia and the reopening of the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, while deferring contentious issues such as its nuclear programme, missile development and sanctions to later stages of negotiations.
However, a US official familiar with the discussions has indicated that Washington wants the nuclear question addressed at the outset, a key sticking point that has prevented progress.
Amid these diplomatic manoeuvres, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been actively engaging regional and global partners. Over the weekend, he made multiple visits to Islamabad and also travelled to St Petersburg, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin and secured expressions of support.
Reports citing senior Iranian officials suggest that Tehran’s outreach includes proposals for phased talks, with the nuclear issue deliberately set aside in the initial stages — a framework that currently appears at odds with Washington’s position.
At the same time, regional powers have begun to publicly push back against Iran’s posture on key shipping routes. Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), meeting in Saudi Arabia under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, rejected what they described as Iran’s “illegal actions” to close the Strait of Hormuz or threaten navigation.
The meeting, attended by leaders from Qatar and Bahrain, Kuwait’s crown prince, and the United Arab Emirates’ foreign minister, called for restoring “security and freedom of navigation” to prewar levels. The bloc also urged deeper military coordination, including joint infrastructure and the development of a ballistic missile early warning system.
The developments come amid reports that Washington is preparing for a prolonged economic pressure campaign. According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump has asked aides to prepare for a sustained blockade of Iran, aimed at tightening restrictions on its economy and oil exports by limiting maritime traffic to and from its ports.
Trump is said to favour this approach over alternatives such as renewed bombing campaigns or disengagement, viewing a continued blockade as a lower-risk but effective means of exerting pressure.
