Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a stark warning that its response to the United States could extend beyond the Middle East, including potential strikes on energy infrastructure, as tensions escalate sharply ahead of Trump's Tuesday deadline.
Multiple media reports, citing a statement carried by state television and Iran International, said that the IRGC said its earlier restraint had ended.
“From now on, all these considerations have been lifted,” the force said, signalling a shift in strategy.
“The Revolutionary Guards once again declare that if the American terrorist army crosses the red lines, our response will go beyond the region,” the statement added.
It warned that Iran could act in ways that would “deprive the United States and its allies of oil and gas in the region for years,” underscoring the potential for long-term disruption to global energy markets.
The IRGC further cautioned US regional partners, saying Tehran had so far exercised restraint “for the sake of good neighbourliness” and had been selective in choosing targets.
“All these reservations have since been removed,” it said, raising fears of a broader escalation that could hit critical infrastructure across allied nations.
The warning comes amid mounting geopolitical strain, with US President Donald Trump having set a deadline for Iran to ease its blockade-linked actions in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
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Adding to the charged atmosphere, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on X, "14 million Iranians, including himself, are ready to sacrifice their lives in defence of the country, reflecting heightened domestic mobilisation."
Diplomatic efforts, however, continue behind the scenes. Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, said Islamabad's “positive and productive” efforts to end the war are approaching a “critical, sensitive stage,” in a post on X.
Meanwhile, the US military has reportedly conducted strikes on Iranian military targets on Kharg Island, according to Axios, citing a senior US official, further intensifying fears of a widening conflict.
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