Your Ships Will Be Sunk": Iran Issues Stark Warning to US Over Strait of Hormuz Blockade

TEHRAN — Tensions in the Middle East reached a new boiling point on Wednesday as a senior military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader warned that Tehran is prepared to sink American warships in the Strait of Hormuz. The threat comes as the United States moves to enforce a naval blockade following the collapse of recent peace negotiations.

"Targeted by Our First Missiles"

Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and current adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, made the remarks on Iranian state television. Wearing his military uniform, Rezaei directly addressed the U.S. administration's efforts to control the strategic maritime chokepoint.

"Mr. Trump wants to become the police of the Strait of Hormuz," Rezaei stated. "These ships of yours will be sunk by our first missiles. They are in great danger and are fully exposed to our strike capabilities."

Rezaei further escalated the rhetoric by suggesting that a U.S. ground invasion would be "welcomed" by Tehran, claiming Iran would take "thousands of hostages" to be used as leverage for billions of dollars in ransom.

The Battle for the World’s Oil Artery

The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most sensitive oil transit lane, with approximately 20% of global seaborne oil passing through its narrow waters. The current standoff stems from a U.S.-led naval blockade aimed at Iranian ports after high-level talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting deal earlier this week.

While a fragile ceasefire has been in place since early April, the U.S. Navy has recently deployed destroyers, including the USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., to challenge Iran's control over the waterway and clear naval mines.

Collapsing Ceasefire?

Rezaei’s comments cast a shadow over hopes for a diplomatic solution. He explicitly stated his personal opposition to extending the current ceasefire, reflecting the growing influence of hardliners within the Iranian leadership.

Military analysts suggest that while the rhetoric is typical of the IRGC, the specific mention of "first missiles" indicates a high state of readiness among Iran’s coastal defense batteries. Washington has yet to officially respond to the latest threats, though President Trump previously warned that any Iranian interference with "peaceful vessels" would be met with overwhelming force.

Global Economic Impact

The ongoing closure of the Strait has already triggered an energy crisis, with global oil prices remains volatile. If the threat to sink vessels is carried out, experts warn of an "economic catastrophe" that could paralyze international trade and lead to a full-scale regional war.