Iran Issues ‘Apocalyptic War’ Warning as U.S. Weighs Renewed Strikes

POLICY WIRE — Tehran, Iran — Iranian officials issued a stern warning on Saturday, October 24, 2026, declaring that U.S. warships will be barred from entering the Persian Gulf. The announcement comes amid growing speculation that Washington is preparing to resume air strikes against the country.

Brig. Gen. Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated that defending the nation’s territorial integrity and religious identity remains a top priority. He warned that if attacked, Iran would achieve absolute victory in this apocalyptic war, a conflict he claimed would determine the future of neighboring Persian Gulf monarchies.

Maj. Gen. Ali Abdollahi, Chief of the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, echoed these sentiments, asserting that U.S. naval forces lack the capability to approach the region. He dismissed claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that Iran’s military power has been neutralized, questioning why U.S. vessels have avoided the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian borders if their capabilities were truly destroyed.

The rhetoric follows reports from U.S. and Israeli media suggesting that both nations are finalizing plans for new military operations. U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack noted in an interview on Friday, October 23, that a strike against Iran could occur within days.

Tensions remain high as the U.S. maintains a blockade on Iranian ports, effectively halting oil exports. While U.S. officials maintain that the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial traffic, Brent crude prices surged to $117 per barrel on Friday.

Iranian leadership has signaled that any new aggression will trigger retaliatory strikes against regional neighbors. Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary General of Iran’s Security Council, previously warned that undersea fibre optic cables critical to regional internet traffic could be targeted in the event of an escalation.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)