Iran Challenges Trump: Send Warships to the Persian Gulf if You Dare

Iran has rejected claims by the United States regarding damage to its naval capabilities. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has challenged US President Donald Trump to send American warships to the Persian Gulf “if he dares”.

“The Strait of Hormuz is completely under the control of the IRGC Navy and Iran has full sovereignty,” stated IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naini, according to the Anadolu Agency on Monday, 16 March 2026.

“Did Trump not say he has destroyed Iran’s Navy? So, if he dares, he can send his ships to the Persian Gulf region,” Naini challenged Trump.

In his statement, Naini also claimed that Iran has so far launched approximately 7,000 missiles and 3,600 drones against US and Israeli targets.

Naini stressed that the war would end when the “enemy” acknowledges Iran’s military strength and social deterrence.

“We are committed to punishing the aggressor and continuing our heavy and destructive attacks against the enemy,” he stated.

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated dramatically since the US and Israel launched large-scale combined military strikes against Iran on 28 February. The series of attacks has reportedly killed at least 1,300 people, including the country’s supreme leader, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tehran has responded with waves of missile and drone attacks against targets in Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

Additionally, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to most tanker traffic since early March, although some Iranian vessels continue to transit the strategic waterway and some ships from other nations have managed to pass through.