Mohsen Rezaei, chief of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said that Iran will launch a full-scale offensive if U.S. strikes continue [1, 2].
The threat marks a significant escalation in regional tensions as the two nations engage in a direct military confrontation. A full-scale offensive could disrupt global energy markets and draw neighboring Gulf states into a broader conflict.
The warning comes as U.S. airstrikes against Iranian targets enter their seventh consecutive night [3, 4, 5]. These operations have focused on targets within Iran and the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz region [3, 5].
Recent military activity in the Strait of Hormuz has already resulted in casualties. One crew member died and eight others were injured during an incident in the waterway [3].
Rezaei said the Iranian response is a direct retaliation to the ongoing U.S. campaign [1, 3]. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has maintained that the offensive operations are a necessary measure to protect national sovereignty against foreign aggression.
U.S. officials have not yet detailed the specific objectives of the seven nights of strikes, but the operations coincide with heightened tensions over maritime security and Iranian regional influence [3, 4]. The continued strikes have placed the Strait of Hormuz, a primary artery for global oil shipments, at the center of the military friction [3, 5].
International monitors are tracking the movement of naval assets in the region as the risk of a wider war increases. The potential for a full-scale offensive suggests that Tehran may be moving beyond limited retaliatory strikes toward a more comprehensive military strategy [1, 2].
“Iran will launch a full-scale offensive if U.S. strikes continue”
The transition from targeted strikes to the threat of a 'full-scale offensive' indicates a breakdown in deterrence between Washington and Tehran. Because the conflict is centered around the Strait of Hormuz, any escalation beyond airstrikes could lead to a blockade or naval warfare, potentially triggering a global energy crisis by obstructing a significant portion of the world's seaborne oil.
