Iran adopts offensive military strategy as regional tensions escalate

Iran has declared a transition to an offensive military stance, cautioning that fresh American strikes could prompt its armed forces to enter neighbouring nations and hit installations that support US operations.

The announcement came from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps amid heightened friction and fresh disruption to commercial maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz. IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebi explained that Tehran has moved away from its traditional posture of solely reacting to hostility. Under the updated framework, the military will pair defensive responses with outward offensive actions, including asymmetrical warfare methods.

Mohebi stated that Iran's missile inventory has grown 1.5 times since its conflict with Israel in June 2025, claiming enhancements in range, destructive capacity, and precision. He also mentioned that Iranian forces are getting ready to debut what he termed the "father of all bombs" to counter adversaries.

The announcement coincided with renewed hazards to shipping in the Persian Gulf. Naval units of the IRGC reported that four vessels allegedly conducting unsanctioned fuel transfers caught fire after being struck in the northern Gulf, while three additional ships detonated mines west of the Strait of Hormuz. The security threats, combined with cross-border strikes against Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi movement, pushed Brent crude prices past $110 per barrel on Thursday.

In response to regional instability, the US Department of State directed non-essential diplomatic staff and their relatives to depart Saudi Arabia. State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott clarified that departure directives were limited to personnel based in Saudi Arabia rather than posts throughout the wider Gulf region.

Meanwhile, diplomatic discussions remain strained. US President Donald Trump stated that Washington is not engaged in talks with Tehran and indicated that a decisive development would emerge in the near term. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that any acceptable accord must halt maritime disruptions in the strait and bar Iran from obtaining nuclear arms. In contrast, Tehran has linked the safety of commercial shipping lanes to an end to the naval blockade of its ports, the removal of economic sanctions, and the unfreezing of state assets.

Regional observers note that Iran's shift in strategy is intended to heighten the costs of external strikes, leveraging regional shipping disruptions and asymmetrical tactics to establish a stronger deterrent against Washington and its allies.