In an escalating war of words that has sent jitters through global oil markets, a senior military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader has issued a blistering warning to Washington: any attempt by the United States to “police” the Strait of Hormuz will result in the sinking of American warships.
Mohsen Rezaei, the former commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and newly appointed military adviser to Mojtaba Khamenei, made the remarks during a televised address on state media. Clad in full military uniform, Rezaei specifically targeted the recent rhetoric from the Trump administration regarding maritime security in the world’s most critical oil chokepoint.
“Mr. Trump wants to become the police of the Strait of Hormuz,” Rezaei said during the broadcast. “Is this really your job? Is this the job of a powerful army like the US? These ships of yours will be sunk by our first missiles.” He further claimed that the presence of the US Navy in the Gulf has created a “great danger” for American personnel, asserting that Iranian missile technology is now capable of destroying large naval vessels with precision.
Hardline Stance on Ground Invasion and Ceasefire
Rezaei, long known as one of the most uncompromising voices within Iran’s ideological army, went even further by suggesting that a US-led ground invasion would actually benefit Tehran. In a provocative statement, he claimed Iran would “take thousands of hostages,” adding that for each captive, Iran would demand a “billion dollars.”
The timing of these comments is particularly sensitive. While diplomatic efforts are reportedly ongoing via Pakistani intermediaries, Rezaei expressed personal opposition to the current de-escalation efforts. “I am not in favor of extending the ceasefire at all,” he noted, though he clarified this was a “personal view.”
The Strait of Hormuz remains the world’s most important energy corridor, with roughly one-fifth of the globe’s total oil consumption passing through it daily. Any military disruption in these waters would likely cause an immediate and massive spike in global energy prices, a scenario Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb recently warned would be “catastrophic” for emerging economies like Pakistan.
