Escalation in the Gulf: Khamenei issues ‘new instructions’ to high command

The IRGC has issued its own warnings, threatening direct strikes against U.S. regional bases if Iranian oil tankers are intercepted.

By Bianca Jones, JFeed

Amid a tightening American naval blockade and a series of kinetic military exchanges, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei held a high-stakes meeting with Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, to finalize a shift in the nation’s defense strategy.

The Fars News Agency reported that Abdollahi provided the Supreme Leader with an exhaustive briefing on the operational readiness of the Islamic Republic’s entire military apparatus.

The review included the Army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), border guards, internal security services, and the Basij paramilitary volunteer force.

“Direct Confrontation”

During the briefing, Khamenei reportedly issued “new instructions” designed to dictate how Iranian forces should confront “enemies” moving forward.

While the specific details of these directives remain classified, state media characterized them as a mandate for “firm confrontation” in light of the ongoing maritime crisis.

The meeting comes at a critical juncture:

The Blockade: Iran is currently struggling under a severe U.S.-led naval blockade in the Persian Gulf, which has exacerbated an already dire domestic economic crisis.

The “Epic Fury” Fallout: This high-level military summit follows a weekend of hostilities where the IRGC reportedly attempted to target three American destroyers transitioning from the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea.

U.S. forces returned fire in a mission President Trump has labeled “Operation Epic Fury.”

Regional Pressure: Reports suggest that the United Arab Emirates has also targeted Iranian infrastructure as part of the widening regional escalation.

Psychological Warfare and Diplomacy

The military summit follows an aggressive social media campaign by U.S. President Donald Trump, who used AI-generated imagery to mock the Iranian fleet and assert American naval dominance.

In response, the IRGC has issued its own warnings, threatening direct strikes against U.S. regional bases if Iranian oil tankers are intercepted.

Despite the rhetoric and the recent exchange of fire, Israeli intelligence officials suggest that neither Washington nor Tehran is currently seeking a return to full-scale conventional warfare.

Instead, both sides appear to be utilizing high-visibility military posturing to gain leverage.

In a potential shift toward a diplomatic exit, Iranian sources indicated later on Sunday that Tehran may transmit its formal response to U.S. negotiation demands by the end of the day.