IRGC warns US warships in Indian Ocean will be targeted if conflict resumes

Tehran: Ali Mohammadi, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy's deputy for political affairs, warned on Sunday, 27 September 2026, that Iranian forces will target United States warships across the Indian Ocean if military conflict resumes. As reported by Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, Mohammadi declared that Tehran's naval forces would not hesitate to launch direct strikes against American destroyers and vessels operating far beyond the immediate confines of the Persian Gulf.

Challenge Over Control of the Strait of Hormuz

Addressing US claims regarding regional maritime dominance, Mohammadi directly challenged US President Donald Trump to deploy naval assets closer to the strategic Strait of Hormuz. According to reporting by Iran International, the IRGC official questioned Washington's presence in the waterway, stating: "If Trump considers the Strait of Hormuz his strait, then why aren't his ships and vessels here?" Mohammadi insisted that all maritime traffic across the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman remains under active IRGC surveillance, asserting that Iranian forces retain the operational capacity to strike targeted vessels if fighting resumes.

Regional Military Readiness and Expanded Warfare

The statements from the IRGC Navy official follow broader warnings from senior Iranian military leadership regarding a widened maritime front. As documented by Al Jazeera, Major-General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a senior military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei, previously confirmed that radar systems are tracking US naval assets throughout the Indian Ocean theatre. Furthermore, Iranian Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei affirmed that Tehran has enhanced its electronic warfare capabilities and air defence systems, warning that American warships in the Indian Ocean will face direct attacks unless they withdraw prior to any fresh outbreak of hostilities.