THE LATEST DISPATCH: Tehran's Latest Warnings. Iran's Military Vows Decisive Response if US Naval Blockade Continues
In its sharpest warning yet to Washington, Iran's central military command declared on Saturday that the continued American naval "piracy, blockade, and banditry" in the region will be met with a decisive response from the Iranian armed forces, the latest in a wave of escalating messages from Tehran cautioning the United States against further provocation.
"If the aggressive US military continues its blockade, piracy, and maritime banditry in the region, they can be certain that they will face the reaction of Iran's powerful armed forces," the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement, stressing that Iran's military possesses "greater strength and readiness" than before to defend the country's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests.
The headquarters reminded Washington that parts of the US military had already experienced Iran's offensive power during the latest US-Israeli aggression against Iran, which began on February 28. The statement further declared the country's resolve to monitor enemy movements while maintaining full control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. "We are ready and determined to inflict even more severe losses on American-Zionist aggressors in the event of any new violation," it added.
Tensions have been running high over the so-called naval blockade the US has enforced on Iranian ports and ships, as well as American attempts to conduct mine-sweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials say the blockade is unlawful and a breach of a two-week ceasefire that took effect on April 8 and was unilaterally extended by US President Donald Trump hours before it was set to expire on April 22.
Pezeshkian Invokes Tabas: 'Learn the Historic Lesson'
In a parallel warning issued Saturday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian cautioned the world's "arrogant powers" to learn from history, saying divine intervention had delivered yet another crushing defeat to the United States in Isfahan—much like its humiliating failure in Tabas 46 years ago.
Commemorating the anniversary of the failed Operation Eagle Claw of April 1980, when a US mission to retrieve American spies held in Iran ended in disaster amid unexpected sandstorms, Pezeshkian wrote on X: "This day revealed the triumph of the Divine Will over any other will. This year, by the grace of God, another Tabas was recorded in southern Isfahan, proving that the God of Tabas's sands remains the Guardian of this nation."
The president was referring to a US operation in early April 2026 in which, according to Iranian accounts, American commando units were swiftly intercepted near an abandoned airport in southern Isfahan. Iran's Armed Forces say they destroyed two US C-130 transport planes and two Black Hawk helicopters during what was purportedly a mission to rescue the pilot of a downed American fighter jet. Reports indicate at least five US military personnel were killed, with others fleeing and leaving behind sensitive equipment and documentation.
Pezeshkian also said earlier this week that the illegal blockade and breach of commitments by Washington are the main obstacles to reviving talks aimed at ending the war, reiterating that Tehran will not accept diktats or negotiate "under the shadow of threats."
Qalibaf to Investors: 'Get Out While You Can'
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf added an economic dimension to the day's warnings, cautioning that access to US assets could tighten if tensions escalate and urging investors to "get out while open." In a post on X, Qalibaf pointed to financial measures introduced to apparently "prevent disorderly sale of US assets," suggesting some institutional holders may already face hidden caps limiting sales to single-digit percentages. "Translation: some holders can't sell," he wrote, warning that "the door closes if things escalate."
The Speaker said the United States is prioritizing stability in its bond markets, noting that "their frontline is the yield curve"—a reference to efforts to prevent sharp increases in Treasury yields from mass sell-offs. His remarks accompanied a New York Times report that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent supports extending currency swap arrangements to the United Arab Emirates and other countries affected by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that the UAE had blamed Trump for the economic fallout and was seeking a financial safety net.
Velayati: 'Unified Iran' vs. a Fractured West
Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, dismissed Washington's narrative of internal divisions in Iran, arguing instead that a "deep fracture" is widening between the United States and its traditional European allies. He cited disputes between Washington and London over the Malvinas Islands and growing European calls for independence from US unilateralism. "Today, unified Iran stands in confrontation with the Hebrew-Arab-American front," Velayati wrote, adding: "The whole world is a body, and Iran is the heart."
Diplomatic Track Stalls as Trump Cancels Envoys' Visit
The warnings came as Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Islamabad on Saturday after presenting Tehran's demands for ending the eight-week war to Pakistani Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Araghchi will next travel to Oman and Russia. The Iranian delegation departed before US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were expected in the Pakistani capital; Trump later told Fox News he had canceled the visit. Pakistan's mediation efforts have stalled over the illegal US naval blockade and what Tehran describes as excessive American demands.
Photo: Press Tv