IRGC Says Renewed War With US Unlikely But Warns of Retaliation
A senior official of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Wednesday that another round of open conflict with the United States was improbable, while issuing a blunt warning that Iran’s armed forces stood ready to respond to any attack on its territory.
Mohammad Akbarzadeh, deputy political chief of the IRGC Navy, made the remarks in a statement published by Tasnim news agency on May 27. His comments come as Iran and the United States are engaged in active ceasefire and peace negotiations following weeks of direct military confrontation between the two countries. middleeasteye
“The possibility of war is low because of the enemy’s weakness; the armed forces are lying in wait with full magazines,” Akbarzadeh said. middleeasteye
He did not stop at a measured assessment of the military balance. Akbarzadeh added: “Do not doubt that we will turn the area from Chabahar to Mahshahr into a graveyard for aggressors” — referring to the two ends of Iran’s southern coastline along the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf. middleeasteye
The statement captures the dual posture Tehran has maintained since hostilities began: signalling openness to diplomacy while preserving the credibility of its military deterrent.
Talks Under Way, But Deal Not Finalised
The IRGC official’s remarks land at a moment of intensive diplomatic activity. Iran and the United States have signalled they are closing in on an agreement to turn the existing ceasefire that ended weeks of heavy bombing into a longer-lasting settlement. However, significant obstacles remain. CNN
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is close to the IRGC, reported that US obstruction of some clauses of the agreement — including the release of Iran’s blocked assets — was continuing, and warned that “there is still a possibility that the agreement may be canceled.” Al Jazeera
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that the negotiations remained focused on ending the conflict rather than resolving the nuclear question. “The focus of the negotiations is on ending the war, and at this stage we are not discussing nuclear issues,” Baghaei said at his weekly press conference. PressTV
Baghaei also said no specific timetable had been set for finalising any understanding, adding: “What matters to us is securing national interests, and whenever we reach a result, we will announce it.” PressTV
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on May 24 that significant progress had been made in the talks, according to Al Jazeera. Tasnim reported that under a potential memorandum of understanding, the number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz would return to pre-war levels within weeks. Al Jazeera
Regional and Global Stakes
The Strait of Hormuz sits at the heart of the dispute’s international consequences. Talks around a potential peace deal have intensified in recent days as US President Donald Trump weighs a path to stop the fighting, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and settle negotiations on nuclear matters within 60 days. CNN
There is significant political pressure on the White House to resolve the conflict, with consequential midterm elections months away. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy and goods shipments since Iran shut the waterway in the early weeks of the conflict. CNN
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said Iran and Oman were working on a mechanism to ensure safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as a matter of global concern. Oman has served as a key mediator throughout the crisis. PressTV
Background
On February 28, 2026, Israel and the United States began a series of strikes against Iran, stating their aims were to induce regime change and target Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in the strikes. Iran appointed Khamenei’s son as his successor and launched a series of counter-strikes against Israel, US military bases in the region, and military and civilian locations in Arab states. House of Commons LibraryHouse of Commons Library
Among Iran’s counter-actions was the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a major global trade route for goods including fuel and gas. President Trump had said as early as March 6 that only Iran’s “unconditional surrender” would be acceptable, threatening to attack Iranian energy infrastructure and bridges if a deal was not reached, and setting a succession of deadlines that were subsequently pushed back. House of Commons LibraryHouse of Commons Library
Two rounds of nuclear talks were held before the conflict escalated to open war. After a second round of talks in Geneva, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran and the United States had reached an understanding on main guiding principles but that work still needed to be done, adding that progress did not mean an agreement would be reached soon. newsonair
What Happens Next
President Trump was expected to convene his full Cabinet at Camp David on Wednesday to discuss the path forward on Iran, including the potential peace deal and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. A senior US official said Washington understood that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, had endorsed the broad template of a deal, though there was no immediate confirmation from Tehran and further work on nuclear details would be required. Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Abbas Araghchi’s planned trip to New York had been canceled due to visa-related issues, leaving the diplomatic timeline uncertain. Both sides have said they will publish draft texts before fixing a date for further formal negotiations. CNN + 2
