Full story
Iran calls blockade war
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned on Monday that a U.S. naval blockade would be considered “an expansion of the war in the region,” according to a statement carried by Fars News Agency.
“Iran warns US naval blockade would amount to ‘expansion of war’ in region Military accuses US of threatening Iranian vessels, commercial ships, oil tankers in Iran’s coastal, territorial waters Rania Abushamala 27 July 2026•Update: 27 July 2026 ISTANBUL Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned Monday that US actions aimed at imposing a naval blockade would be considered “an expansion of the war in the region”
The military command accused Washington of threatening Iranian vessels, commercial ships and oil tankers in Iran’s coastal and territorial waters during the past three days, and said, “This US action will be regarded as an expansion of the war in the region.”
The Anadolu Ajansı report also cited the U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) saying a U.S. naval blockade against Iran “remains in full effect,” and that as of July 25 U.S. forces had redirected 12 commercial vessels, disabled two, and boarded two to verify compliance.
Anadolu Ajansı further reported that tensions between the U.S. and Iran have intensified in recent weeks, with Washington carrying out attacks on Iran and Tehran responding by targeting what it said were U.S. military facilities and equipment in countries across the region.
Threats and counter-threats
WANA News Agency said the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters described the U.S. effort as an “illegal naval blockade” and warned that the Iranian Armed Forces would respond to any hostile action.
WANA quoted the headquarters warning that the United States had continued “acts of aggression and insecurity” in the region by carrying out an “illegal naval blockade” against Iran.
In a separate report, قناة العالم (Al Alam) said the Headquarters of the Seal of the Prophets (PBUH) warned that after imposing the illegal maritime blockade on Iran, “America, in continuing its evil deeds and destabilizing regional security, after imposing the illegal maritime blockade on Iran, has threatened Iranian ships, merchant vessels, and oil tankers” over the past three days.
Shafaq News said state media quoted the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters warning that “Our armed forces will not leave any American threat or act of aggression without a response and will confront it,” while also noting U.S. Central Command announced it had changed the course of 17 ships in the Strait of Hormuz and disabled two ships and searched two others.
Strait of Hormuz stakes
Shafaq News reported that earlier IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohibi announced that the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz is mined, while the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters asserted that the strait remains closed to navigation and that any passage by ships must go through the routes designated by Tehran.
The same Shafaq News report said Iranian forces were asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz and stressed that the route Tehran designates is the only safe path for ship movement in the region.
Mehr News Agency framed the dispute as a broader conflict, saying the top Iranian military body warned that “Naval blockade would mean widened US war: Khatam al-Anbia,” and added that the United States has threatened Iranian vessels, commercial ships and tankers in the coastal and territorial waters over the past three days.
Mehr News Agency also quoted Khatam al-Anbia warning, “We warn that this American action is considered an expansion of war in the region,” and said the armed forces would not leave any threat and evil from that country’s terrorist army unanswered and would deal with it.
