Iran's military has issued a stark warning to the United States, vowing an unprecedented retaliation after American forces conducted strikes against Iranian targets on June 26. The announcement came from Ibrahim al-Fiqar, official military spokesperson for Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the operational command center that coordinates the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the regular Iranian army.
Iran's Response Will Be Unprecedented
In a series of posts on X, al-Fiqar declared that Iran's response to the US attack would be unlike any before. "We affirm that this aggression will not go unanswered, and we will choose the appropriate time and place," he stated. He warned that any further "act of folly" would be met with a harsh response that would "shatter the illusions of the aggressors in the region."
Al-Fiqar's rhetoric escalated further: "Our response will shake the earth to its core, and will erase your military presence as if it never existed. When the three numbers match tonight, the flow will cease and the silence will become a storm. There will be nothing to say, only what will be seen. No summons and no options... This is an unprecedented night, in which gunpowder will write the final line in your illusions. The response to the US attack will be swift and decisive."
US CENTCOM Strikes Target Iranian Military Sites
The warning comes after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted strikes against Iran on June 26, described as a powerful response to an Iranian attack on a commercial ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz. According to a CENTCOM statement, U.S. aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations as well as coastal radar sites. This followed Iran's attack on the M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 with a one-way attack drone. The Singapore-flagged cargo ship was exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast at the time of the attack.
CENTCOM condemned the "unwarranted aggression" against commercial shipping by Iranian forces, stating it clearly violated the ceasefire. The statement further noted that Iran's actions undermined freedom of navigation as commerce increasingly flows through the vital international trade corridor.
Iran Vows to Choose Time and Place
Al-Fiqar emphasized that Iran would select the moment and location for its retaliation. "Your audacity was what started the equation, and our platforms will complete it tonight... on a night unprecedented in its magnitude," he posted. "All eyes are turned to the sky... Tonight is unprecedented, and the fire will paint the new stage. Our response this time will be unprecedented."
The CENTCOM statement also confirmed that U.S. forces continue to provide safe passage coordination and support to commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military remains present and vigilant to ensure all aspects of the agreement with Iran are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect.
Context of Rising Tensions
The strikes and subsequent threats mark a significant escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran. The attack on the M/V Ever Lovely and the US response highlight the fragile security situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. Iran's warning of a "harsh response" suggests that further military confrontation may be imminent, with both sides signaling readiness for continued conflict.
