Iran says US options limited, warns over naval blockade

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) intelligence wing has claimed that Washington’s options are becoming increasingly limited. In a post on X, the unit said Iran had set a deadline for the United States to lift what it described as a blockade on Iranian ports, though no timeframe was disclosed. It also pointed to what it called a noticeable shift in rhetoric from China, Russia, and European countries regarding the situation. According to the post, the US now faces a difficult choice between launching a complex military operation or accepting an unfavourable agreement with Iran, adding that its room for manoeuvre is shrinking. Separately, senior Iranian official Mohsen Rezaee, a former IRGC commander and current secretary of the Expediency Council, issued a stark warning over the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. He likened US forces in the region to “pirates” and threatened severe consequences, saying Iran can confront them. The U.S. is the only pirate in the world that possesses aircraft carriers. Our ability to confront pirates is no less than our ability to sink warships.Prepare to face a graveyard of your carriers and forces, just as the wreckage of your aircraft was left behind in Isfahan. — محسن رضایی (@ir_rezaee) May 3, 2026 Rezaee warned that any escalation could turn the strategic waterway into a “graveyard” for US military assets, referencing a recent incident in which an American aircraft was downed. Meanwhile, there has been a noticeable increase in US military air activity in the region. Data from flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 indicated a surge in aircraft movements from Europe to the Middle East, particularly involving transport and refuelling planes. Reports suggest that several C-17A Globemaster III cargo aircraft—each capable of carrying heavy equipment and personnel—were dispatched, with at least a dozen flights heading toward the region, some originating from Germany. In addition, Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling