Iran Vows to Strike US Bases and Warships if Ground Invasion Launched

Iran threatens US bases and warships across the region if Washington launches a ground invasion, a senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned on Sunday.

Ali Fadavi, head of the advisory group to the IRGC commander-in-chief, issued the warning during an appearance on Iranian state television.

“If the Americans launch a ground attack, then we will target every location related to the Americans, American bases and every vessel related to the Americans,” Fadavi said.

He argued that Washington only understands military force. The Americans “understand missiles hitting their warships” and “missiles hitting their bases,” he said.

Fadavi also claimed Iran’s production of military equipment now outpaces the rate at which it is being used, and said the country’s capabilities had grown significantly compared with its previous two wars.

Strait of Hormuz rules

Turning to the Strait of Hormuz, Fadavi said Iran and Oman should draw up and enforce rules governing the strategic waterway, adding that such rules had already been prepared and were being put into effect.

He warned that American vessels would be vulnerable to Iranian attacks if Washington deployed them to the region. “The Americans can only create tensions through the air, and certainly an increase in tensions will be to the detriment of the Americans,” he said.

Fadavi added that Iran had “in no way attacked a Muslim country,” arguing that Tehran had instead targeted US military bases located in those countries.

Why Iran threatens US bases now

The warning comes as the United States moves additional naval and military assets toward the Middle East, including carrier and amphibious forces, while strengthening air and missile defences at bases across the region.

The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28. Tehran answered with missile and drone attacks across the region and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a route that carries a large share of the world’s energy supplies. Washington later imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports.

Efforts to end the war have continued since a June framework deal aimed at paving the way for a final agreement covering navigation through the waterway and Iran’s nuclear programme.

Warnings pile up in Tehran

Fadavi was not the only Iranian commander speaking out. Army Commander-in-Chief General Amir Hatami said on Sunday that any further enemy mistake would draw a crushing response, adding that the war’s outcome had brought honour and pride rather than surrender, according to Press TV.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Tehran would keep documenting what he called crimes resulting from American and Israeli military aggression and report them to international organisations.

In a separate development, Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad resigned on Sunday, state-run Tasnim news agency reported. President Masoud Pezeshkian accepted the resignation and appointed Hamid Bovard, a former head of the National Iranian Oil Company, as acting minister. No reason was given.

Who warned that Iran would target US bases?

Ali Fadavi, head of the advisory group to the IRGC commander-in-chief, speaking on Iranian state television.

What exactly did he threaten?

He said Iran would target “every location related to the Americans, American bases and every vessel related to the Americans” if Washington launched a ground attack.

Why are US-Iran tensions rising now?

The US has moved carrier and amphibious forces toward the Middle East and tightened sanctions on Iran’s oil sector, while Iran has kept the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed since the war began in February.