Tehran Issues Stark Retaliation Threat After US Strikes

Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard has delivered a blunt message to the United States: continued military action will be answered with strength. The warning follows recent US strikes on missile positions and naval assets near the Strait of Hormuz. The Guard claims its forces remain fully capable of responding decisively to any new provocation. In the past 24 hours, 25 commercial ships reportedly sailed through the strait under IRGC supervision after obtaining clearance. The Guard described its oversight as “smart and firm,” signaling both operational control and a readiness to confront threats. Meanwhile, US Central Command confirmed it conducted defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites and vessels attempting to lay mines. Command spokesman Tim Hawkins said the operation aimed to protect US troops during the ongoing ceasefire that began April 8. He added that Washington would maintain force protection measures regardless of diplomatic efforts. The renewed fighting threatens to derail talks intended to end the wider conflict and risks further shocks to global oil supplies passing through the strategic waterway. Iran has steadily increased its hold over Hormuz traffic since late February, denying passage to vessels tied to the US or Israel. In response, the American navy has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, compelling many ships to seek alternative routes and heightening tensions in one of the world’s most critical maritime corridors.