Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on Friday warned the United States against military escalation and threatened a forceful response. IRGC Commander-in-Chief
Ahmad Vahidi said any act of US 'aggression' would be met with "devastating and painful strikes". "The enemy must learn from its repeated defeats, or it will face even greater lessons. Any act of aggression, no matter how minor, will be met with devastating and painful strikes," said IRGC Commander-in-Chief Ahmad Vahidi. His warning comes amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States, with fresh escalation reported in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei cautioned the neighbouring countries against providing logistical support to the US. In a post on X, Baghaei said any direct or indirect support for the United States would be considered participation in aggression against Iran. "Any direct or indirect involvement in acts of aggression or in inhumane economic terrorism against Iran - including the deployment of naval forces, military and logistical support equipment, and personnel - will be regarded as a hostile and unlawful act amounting to participation in the US aggression against Iran."
Iran Claims US Drone Shot Down Over Hormuz
Iran on Friday claimed that it shot down a US MQ-1 Predator drone over the Strait of Hormuz and destroyed a US early-warning radar system in Bahrain, marking a reported escalation in its military actions amid continuing tensions with Washington. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also claimed that a liquefied petroleum gas tanker struck a mine while attempting to cross the strategic waterway.
Iran said that a US MQ-1 Predator drone was downed on the Sirik coast in the Kohstak region, the semi-official IRNA news agency reported. The Iranian navy said it "will not hesitate for a moment" in protecting and defending Iran’s territorial integrity, maritime borders and interests, IRNA said.
The IRGC said it destroyed a US early warning radar in Bahrain, the first such claim in months. The attack on the US radar system followed a US strike on a telecommunications pole in the southern Iranian port of Sirik. Bahrain has been one of the strongest critics of Iran and is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet.
'We Don't Need A Deal,' Declares Trump
The escalation comes at a time when President Donald Trump declared that the United States does not need a deal with Iran. Trump directed Vice President JD Vance, who has played a role in efforts to resolve the war, to focus "his complete and total attention" on alleged crime and corruption in Democratic-run cities and states.
"We don't need a deal with Iran. Those days have long since passed. We’ve got their money, Hundreds of Billions of Dollars, and we’ve got their Strait!" Trump wrote on social media, referring to the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump's directive came a day after the Wall Street Journal reported that Vance was considering face-to-face peace talks with a hard-line Iranian security official. Vance had earlier blamed the costly war with Iran for Republicans' midterm elections drubbing.
