[54000] Escalation in the Persian Gulf: Revolutionary Guards threaten to attack US bases

Escalation in the Persian Gulf: Revolutionary Guards threaten a response against the US

Peak tension was recorded on May 9, 2026, in the Persian Gulf, after the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy issued an official threat stating that "any attack against Iranian oil tankers or commercial vessels will be met with a heavy strike against one of the US centers in the region and enemy vessels," as reported by Amir Tsarfati and Middle East Spectator — MES.

The threat comes against a backdrop of reports regarding increased activity by the US Navy, which, according to Geopolitics Watch (which maintains a critical line toward US policy), continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports. According to the source, since April 13, the US Navy has diverted over 58 commercial ships and neutralized four oil tankers. Abu Ali Express in English reported that satellite imagery reveals four disabled and burning Iranian tankers in the Gulf of Oman area, leading to significant oil leaks at sea.

At the same time, operational preparation in the field is evident. Middle East Spectator — MES reported on the movement of mobile launchers across Iranian provinces and the identification of more than 100 IRGC speedboats in operational formation in the Strait of Hormuz. TabZ - Alternative Media added that the commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force, Brigadier General Majid Mousavi, stated that missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles are already "locked onto American targets in the region."

The events illustrate the depth of the ongoing maritime conflict. While elements identified with a pro-Iranian line like Resistance Lounge emphasize the operational preparations, reporters like Daphna Liel point out that the Iranian threats come as a direct response to the thwarting of Tehran's attempts to break the American naval blockade.