TEHRAN: Amid a sharp escalation in regional hostilities, Iran has issued a stern warning, threatening “continuous, effective and painful” attacks on United States bases and interests across West Asia if Washington resumes military action.

The high-stakes warning was delivered by Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters—the country’s primary military command—via an official statement carried by the state-run IRNA. According to the command, intelligence suggests that Washington is actively preparing to launch fresh military actions against Tehran with the active backing of select regional allies.

“Should the United States make any mistake against the Islamic Republic of Iran, all its bases and interests in the region will be targeted in continuous, effective and painful attacks without any limitation or consideration,” the military command asserted.

Furthermore, Tehran directed a sharp warning toward neighboring regional countries, cautioning them against supporting any potential US-led military operations. The command stressed that any state aligning itself with Washington would be treated as a direct participant in the conflict, losing any expectation of restraint from Iranian forces.

Naval Blockade and Strait of Hormuz Tensions

The fresh threats underscore a deep deterioration in US-Iran relations, compounded by Washington's ongoing naval blockade on Iranian ports. The US military resumed its enforcement actions against commercial maritime traffic moving in and out of Iranian ports on July 14, causing profound anxiety over shipping safety through the Strait of Hormuz—one of the planet's most critical energy transit corridors.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that its forces have redirected 109 commercial vessels thus far to guarantee total compliance with the blockade. While enforcing strict restrictions, CENTCOM maintains that it continues to facilitate non-violating commercial traffic through regional waters.

Diplomatic Signals and Regional Fallout

Against this tense backdrop, US President Donald Trump stated that Washington is drawing close to a major decision regarding Iran, warning that Tehran will face severe consequences if it refuses to alter its path. However, Trump also signaled potential openness to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York.

On the diplomatic front, senior Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei revealed that Tehran has laid out clear terms through Qatari mediation to end the standoff. These conditions include a complete halt to hostilities, the release of frozen Iranian financial assets, and the immediate lifting of the naval blockade.

The current friction follows a fresh wave of regional instability triggered by Houthi drone and missile strikes targeting Saudi Arabia. In response to the compounding threats, the US has issued urgent security advisories for American citizens across multiple nations in West Asia, highlighting risks of rapid escalation, flight disruptions, and targeted assaults on Western interests.