Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issuing a stark warning to U.S. armed forces. In a recent statement, the IRGC declared that “any strike on power” infrastructure in Iran “will be met in kind”, signaling a tit-for-tat retaliation that could target energy facilities across the region.
Background of the IRGC Warning to the US
The IRGC’s statement comes amid heightened conflict in the Middle East, particularly following U.S. President Donald Trump’s ultimatum. Trump threatened to “hit and obliterate” Iran’s power plants if Iran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a 48-hour deadline. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital chokepoint for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, carrying about one-fifth of the world’s supply.
In response, Iran’s military leadership, including the IRGC and unified armed forces command, vowed severe countermeasures. Key points from Iranian statements include:
- Any attack on Iran’s fuel, energy, or power infrastructure would trigger strikes on US-linked energy sites, information technology facilities, and water desalination plants in the region.
- Facilities in countries hosting U.S. military bases could be deemed “lawful targets.”
- The IRGC warned it would completely shut down the Strait of Hormuz until damaged Iranian sites are rebuilt.
- Companies with U.S. shares or ties could face “complete destruction.”
Iranian officials, such as military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, emphasized that such retaliation would cause “irreversible destruction” of critical infrastructure across the Middle East.