Tehran: Iran threatened Sunday to confront the US over its naval blockade, with a top military adviser to the country's supreme leader warning that the Sea of Oman could become a 'graveyard' for US ships if tensions continue to escalate.

According to Anadolu Agency, Maj. Gen. Mohsen Rezaei, a member of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council, issued a stern warning on Iranian state television, advising the US military to withdraw its forces to avoid dire consequences. Rezaei emphasized that Iran perceives the naval blockade as an act of war, asserting Iran's natural right to respond if the situation persists.

Rezaei further clarified that Iran's ongoing restraint should not be misinterpreted as acquiescence to US pressure or threats. "If we've been patient until now, it doesn't mean we have accepted it," he stated.

He questioned the US's continued military presence in the Gulf, challenging the rationale behind it. He noted that past justifications, such as countering the Soviet Union, are now obsolete. "America comes here and brings its warships. Who is its enemy? At one time, they said they came to confront the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union no longer exists," Rezaei remarked.

Rezaei also stressed that while the Strait of Hormuz remains open for trade, it will be closed to foreign military operations and any destabilizing efforts. "The Strait of Hormuz is open to trade, but it will be closed to military buildups and any attempts to destabilize security," he asserted.

Regional tensions have heightened since US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, which led to retaliatory attacks by Tehran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Although a ceasefire was established on April 8 through Pakistani mediation and extended by US President Donald Trump, it failed to achieve a lasting resolution. Since April 13, the US has enforced a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic in the strategic waterway.