Iran Threatens Oman Sea Could Become 'Ship Graveyard' if US Does Not End Blockade
Iran has threatened to resist the United States over its naval blockade in the Oman Sea. Iran warned that the Oman Sea could transform into a ‘graveyard’ for US ships if tensions continue to escalate.
‘My advice to the US is to withdraw before the Oman Sea turns into a graveyard for your ships. Otherwise, our understanding is that a naval blockade is an act of war, and responding to it is our natural right,’ stated Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, in a statement broadcast on Iranian state television on Sunday (17/05/2026).
Rezaei added that Iran’s defence should not be interpreted as an acceptance of pressure or threats. ‘If we have been patient until now, it does not mean we accept it,’ he said.
He also questioned the justification for the continued presence of US military forces in the Gulf region. According to Rezaei, Washington no longer possesses the justifications previously used to maintain its role in the area. ‘America comes here and brings its warships. Who is their enemy? Previously, they said they came to face the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union no longer exists,’ he remarked.
Rezaim stated that the Strait of Hormuz has remained open for trade. He emphasised that what is being rejected is foreign military campaigns, rather than commercial traffic through the waterway. ‘The Strait of Hormuz is open for trade, but it will be closed to military build-ups and any efforts that disrupt security,’ he asserted.
Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched attacks against Iran on 28 February, triggering retaliatory strikes by Tehran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire came into effect on 8 April through Pakistani mediation, but negotiations in Islamabad failed to produce a long-term agreement. The ceasefire was subsequently extended by US President Donald Trump without a specified duration. Since 13 April, the US has imposed a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the strategic waterways.