Strait of Hormuz Heats Up, Iran Warns US: We Haven't Even Started Yet!
Influential Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned the United States not to escalate tensions further in the Strait of Hormuz. This warning comes amid a series of risky attacks in the strategic waterway that have reignited the Middle East war.
The US military claims that several of its Apache and Seahawk helicopters have struck six Iranian vessels threatening commercial shipping in the area. President Donald Trump separately stated that US forces had “destroyed” seven small Iranian military boats in those waters.
Washington’s military also claims its forces repelled a missile and drone attack on Monday (4 May). Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates, one of the Gulf states hosting US military assets, reported a fresh barrage of Iranian attacks in its territory.
Iran’s latest warning, as reported by AFP on Tuesday (5 May 2026), was issued after President Donald Trump announced the latest US military mission to escort ships from neutral countries out of Gulf waters via the Strait of Hormuz.
Both Iran and the US claim to have launched attacks in the Strait of Hormuz in efforts to control the vital waterway for global oil and gas supplies. Both countries have imposed maritime blockades in those waters in recent times.
“We are well aware that the continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America; meanwhile, we haven’t even started,” said Ghalibaf, who also serves as Iran’s parliamentary speaker, in his latest statement via social media platform X.
The war raging for more than two months between Iran, on one side, and the US and Israel, on the other, has spread across the Middle East and shaken the global economy. The conflict has affected hundreds of millions of people worldwide, despite a ceasefire holding for several weeks.
In his statement, Ghalibaf said US and allied actions endanger shipping security. However, he also stated that “their evil presence will diminish”, with Tehran vowing not to relinquish control over the Strait of Hormuz.
“A new equation is forming in the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping security and energy transit have been threatened by the US and its allies through violations of the ceasefire and blockades; of course, their crimes will diminish,” Ghalibaf said in his statement.
Iran denies that its warships were hit by US attacks in the strategic waterway but accuses Washington of killing five civilians in strikes on small cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
This situation occurs as negotiations between Tehran and Washington have reached an impasse, with only one round of direct peace talks held so far.