Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, warned on 18 July that if the United States continues its military campaign against Iran for another two to three days, Tehran will shift into an 'offensive and destructive' phase — a significant escalation in rhetoric as the conflict intensifies.

Key Developments

Rezaei, speaking in an interview with state-run IRIB TV, declared that Iran's policy of 'both war and negotiation' has come to an end. He warned that Iran's armed forces will no longer confine themselves to retaliatory strikes, and that US bases and forces will no longer be safe within any political borders if American attacks persist.

He added that Iran would deploy additional military capabilities, including ground forces, and that the scope of the conflict would expand significantly. 'The United States must wait for expanded waves of missile and drone attacks,' Rezaei said, cautioning Washington against any ground operation on Iranian soil.

Iran's Restraint Claim and Regional Warning

Rezaei asserted that Iran has, until now, exercised deliberate restraint to prevent the war from spiralling into a broader regional and international crisis. He accused the United States of miscalculating by turning the conflict into a regional one.

He also called on the peoples of neighbouring countries — including Kuwait, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar — to take steps to prevent further escalation, signalling Tehran's concern about the conflict drawing in the wider Gulf region.

Strait of Hormuz Incident

Separately, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Friday that Iranian forces targeted a 'violating' vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. According to an informed military source cited by Tasnim, the Thai-flagged vessel attempted to cross the strait without obtaining the required permissions from the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and ignored warnings before being targeted.

Background: Escalating US-Iran Military Exchanges

Over the preceding several days, the US military launched multiple waves of strikes against Iran's southern provinces, stating the attacks were aimed at 'degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping' in response to Iranian forces targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, in turn, responded with waves of missile and drone attacks on US military bases and facilities across the region.

This is one of the most direct and sustained military exchanges between the two countries in decades, raising fears of a broader regional conflagration. Notably, the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20% of the world's oil supply transits — has become a focal flashpoint in the standoff.

What Happens Next

With Rezaei explicitly warning of expanded missile and drone waves and the possible deployment of ground forces, the coming days will be critical. Regional powers have been put on notice, and global energy markets are watching the Strait of Hormuz situation closely. Any further escalation risks drawing in additional actors and disrupting global oil supply chains.