Tehran [Iran], April 25 (ANI): Iran on Saturday warned the United States that it would deliver a “decisive response” if Washington continued what Tehran called “blockade, piracy, and maritime robbery” in the Gulf, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media Press TV reported.
The statement came from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the country’s highest operational military command coordinating the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC). It said the US would face consequences if it persisted with its actions in regional waters.
“Should the aggressor US military persist in blockade, piracy, and maritime robbery in the region, it can be certain that it will face a decisive response from Iran’s powerful armed forces,” the headquarters said, quoted by Press TV. The statement added that Iran’s armed forces are at a higher level of readiness and deterrence capability than ever and are prepared to defend national sovereignty and strategic interests.
The headquarters said Iranian forces are closely monitoring regional movements, including activity in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and asserted readiness “to maintain management and control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz” and, if faced with renewed aggression by “American-Zionist enemies,” to inflict even more severe losses upon them.
The remarks follow continued US actions described by Iran as a blockade of Iranian ports and persistent US naval presence in the Strait. US Central Command has said its forces are conducting enforcement operations as part of a blockade of Iranian ports and that the Strait of Hormuz remains affected, with multiple vessels redirected. A post by US CENTCOM on X said US forces have turned back or redirected at least 34 vessels attempting to enter or exit Iranian ports.
CENTCOM also reported that the guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115) enforced a blockade on an Iranian-flagged vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port on April 24.
Separately, Pakistan’s bid to host high-level US-Iran talks in Islamabad appears to be faltering. Reports say prospects for those talks are “rapidly fading,” leaving Pakistan sidelined as Tehran reportedly refuses to meet the visiting American delegation, according to Kamran Khan, chairman of ARY News. Pakistani authorities have imposed strict security measures in the capital, including a heavy lockdown and a cordon around the high-security Red Zone.
Sources cited by Khan say Tehran is “still not ready to meet the U.S. delegation,” which reportedly includes US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Senior Adviser and son-in-law of US President Donald, Jared Kushner. Iran has been said to bypass its Pakistani hosts by issuing demands directly to Washington; Tehran’s precondition is that the US Navy must first lift its blockade on the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports. (ANI)
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