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Iran Warns US Preparing Strikes as Hormuz Shipping Disruptions Deepen — AI-generated representative image: A commercial vessel transits the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened regional tensions.

Editorial Team

Tehran cautions regional states against aiding Washington while signaling openness to diplomacy at the UN General Assembly

Iran's central military command said on Sunday that it has received information indicating the United States is preparing to resume strikes on the country, raising the prospect of renewed fighting after months of reduced direct attacks.

The warning was issued by the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which oversees Iran's armed forces. Tehran cautioned that any renewed US assault would bring retaliation against American bases and interests across the Middle East.

The escalation comes as the confrontation is already disrupting the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway linking the Gulf to the Arabian Sea that serves as a key route for global energy shipments. Any renewed military action threatens to further destabilize regional security and energy markets.

The standoff also carries diplomatic implications, with both Iranian and American officials convening in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, where a potential meeting between the two countries' leaders has been floated.

Military Warning and Diplomatic Signals

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said states that allowed their territory or facilities to support US attacks would be "considered complicit" and could face an Iranian response.

US President Donald Trump told Fox News on Sunday that he was in a "deciding mode" over Iran, saying his options included further military action, economic pressure or a deal. He also said he would be open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly this week.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Tehran on Sunday evening for the UN General Assembly in New York, state media announced, adding that he is making a brief stopover in Qatar.

Background of the Conflict

The war began in late February after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran. A 60-day memorandum reached in June reduced full-scale fighting, but it expired last month, and attacks around the Strait of Hormuz have increased since then.

Shipping data showed 12 commodity vessels crossed the strait over the weekend, down from 35 the previous weekend, underscoring the growing disruption to one of the world's most important energy corridors.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf told lawmakers on Sunday that Tehran should use military force to push back its opponents before turning to diplomacy to secure any gains. He also said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until Washington met what Iran says are its commitments under an earlier agreement.

Mediation Efforts and Iranian Conditions

Tehran has told Qatari and Pakistani mediators that conditions for renewed talks include an end to the war and US attacks, the release of frozen Iranian funds and the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.

Qatar, a Gulf state mediating between the two sides, said its officials are travelling between capitals and exchanging proposals aimed at restarting negotiations. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said Doha had heard assurances from US officials that Washington wanted an agreement.

Iranian officials were sending a deliberate two-track message, signalling that they remained open to diplomacy while preparing for renewed fighting.

What Lies Ahead

The situation remains fluid, with both military preparations and diplomatic channels active simultaneously. The UN General Assembly gathering in New York this week offers a potential venue for direct engagement, though no meeting between the two presidents has been confirmed.

Authorities have not announced any specific timeline for a US military decision, and additional information on any renewed strikes remains unconfirmed.