"The brave men of the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran monitor and observe all the movements of the invading US army in the region," Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said on Sunday.
"The US president’s threats following the disgraceful defeat of his country's army in the third imposed war (against Iran) regarding a naval blockade of Iran are very ridiculous and laughable," the Navy chief stated.
On February 28, following the assassination of Iran's late leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and several military commanders, the US and Israel launched a military offensive against Iran. In response, the Iranian Armed Forces executed a series of counterattacks over 40 days, targeting US and Israeli military assets, which resulted in significant damages and prolonged the conflict. A two-week ceasefire was brokered on April 8, allowing for negotiations in Islamabad, where Iran proposed a ten-point plan seeking US troop withdrawal and the lifting of sanctions.
Despite 21 hours of intense talks, the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran without an agreement, citing a lack of trust in US commitments. Amidst these tensions, Trump announced a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, aimed at intercepting vessels that had paid tolls to Iran. The US military confirmed that the blockade would begin on Monday at 14:00 GMT, escalating the situation further.