Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders warned on Saturday that any attack on Iranian oil tankers or commercial vessels would trigger retaliation against American military bases and ships in the region, as tensions continued to simmer around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's state-run IRIB News quoted the IRGC navy command as saying: "Any attack on Iranian oil tankers and commercial ships will be met with a wide attack on one of the American bases in the region and enemy ships."
The warning came amid continuing confrontations between Iranian and American forces in and around the strategic waterway, a vital route for global oil shipments. Although both sides have reported limited exchanges of fire in recent days, Donald Trump has maintained that a ceasefire remains in effect.
In a separate statement carried by IRIB News, General Sardar Mousavi said Iranian missiles and drones were prepared to strike American and allied targets if ordered. "IRGC missiles and aerospace drones are locked on American targets in the region and aggressor enemy ships," he said. "We are waiting for the order to fire."
At the same time, Iranian officials indicated that Tehran wasreviewing a proposalfrom the United States aimed at easing tensions, even as they accused Washington of contributing to the recent escalation.
Ali Safari said Iran had received messages through several diplomatic channels suggesting that the United States was seeking to avoid a broader military confrontation. "We are reviewing their proposal," Safari said, while adding that Tehran remained deeply suspicious of American intentions after the recent clashes.
"The attacks can no longer be ignored," he said, arguing that the United States "cannot again use the Strait of Hormuz to attack Iran and the countries of the region."
Safari said Iran's immediate priority was restoring stability to the shipping lane, through which a substantial portion of the world's energy supplies pass.
"When we say ending the war, we mean all fronts, especially Lebanon," he added, linking the maritime tensions to wider regional conflicts and Tehran's discussions with Lebanese officials. Safari also criticised regional governments that had supported a United Nations Security Council draft resolution targeting Iran, accusing them of helping enable American military action. He specifically named the United Arab Emirates among those he said had taken part.
This comes with the United Kingdomdeploying a warshipto the Middle East ahead of a potential mission to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday. The Royal Navy's HMS Dragon would support mine clearance efforts and protect vessels as part of a "strictly defensive" plan, the ministry said.
"The pre-positioning of HMS Dragon is part of prudent planning that will ensure that the UK is ready, as part of a multinational coalition jointly led by the UK and France, to secure the Strait, when conditions allow," a ministry spokesperson said.
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