Following the collapse of high-level peace talks in Islamabad, a chorus of top-ranking Iranian officials has issued stern warnings of retaliation against proposed US military maneuvers in the region.
Leading the rhetoric, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf—who headed the Iranian delegation during the 21-hour negotiations in Pakistan—addressed US President Donald Trump directly upon his return, stating, “If you fight, we will fight.”
The warning was echoed by Mohsen Rezaei, a senior military adviser and former Revolutionary Guard Commander, who noted on X (formerly Twitter) that Iran’s armed forces possess “major untouched levers” to counter any potential blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Rezaei dismissed Washington’s current stance, asserting that Tehran would not be coerced by “tweets and imaginary plans.”
Adding to the tension, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) clarified that while the Strait remains under Iran’s “full control” and open for civilian vessels, any military transit would face a “forceful response.”
These statements come amid conflicting reports from the weekend's summit, where the US military claimed two destroyers had transited the Strait to begin mine-clearing operations—a claim Iran has flatly denied.
Source: UNB
