Tensions continue to rise in the Middle East as negotiations remain deadlocked

Tehran could respond militarily to US naval forces enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports, a senior Iranian official has said, warning that the Gulf of Oman could become a "graveyard" for American warships.

Speaking on Iranian state television on Sunday, Mohsen Rezaei, who serves on a senior advisory body to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, said Iran's patience with the ongoing maritime restrictions was running out after weeks of disrupted shipping activity.

"The longer they continue the naval blockade of Iran, the greater the damage to the world economy will be," Rezaei stated. "We advise the US military to lift the siege before the Gulf of Oman turns into their graveyard."

Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), argued that Tehran would be justified in responding militarily to an act ofwar, which he stressed the blockade amounts to.

US President Donald Trump announced the naval operation on April 13, undermining indirect diplomatic efforts mediated by Pakistan. Although Washington and Tehran declared a fragile ceasefire on April 8, both sides have continued to reject each other's conditions for a broader settlement.

READ MORE: Clock is ticking for Iran Trump

Over the weekend, Trump renewed pressure on Tehran through social media, warning that "the Clock is Ticking" for Iran. He also shared an image depicting Iran being invaded by neighboring countries, including states that have remained neutral in the conflict.

The crisis was triggered by a US-Israeli bombing campaign targeting Iran's leadership and key infrastructure. Tehran responded with retaliatory strikes against the attacking nations and against regional countries hosting US military bases. Iranian authorities have also restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

According to reports by Axios and CNN, Trump convened senior national security officials on Saturday to discusspossiblenext steps, including renewed military action. The meeting was reportedly held hours after Trump's return from a state visit to China, and included Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, sources have said.

(RT.com)