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Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned Monday that U.S. actions aimed at imposing a naval blockade would be considered "an expansion of the war in the region."
In a statement carried by Fars News Agency, the military command accused Washington of threatening Iranian vessels, commercial ships and oil tankers in Iran's coastal and territorial waters over the past three days.
"This U.S. action will be regarded as an expansion of the war in the region," it warned.
"As the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran have demonstrated on the battlefield, they will not leave any threat or hostile action by that country's terrorist military unanswered and will confront it," the command said.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday that a U.S. naval blockade against Iran remains in full effect.
CENTCOM said U.S. forces had redirected 12 commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade, disabled two that failed to comply and boarded two others to verify compliance as of July 25.
Tensions between the United States and Iran have intensified in recent weeks, with Washington carrying out attacks on Iran and Tehran responding by targeting what it said were U.S. military facilities and equipment in countries across the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that there is "a good chance" of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume military operations if negotiations fail.
"They want to meet, and we are meeting. We'll see what happens. There is a chance we can make a deal," Trump told reporters.
"Without what we did, they wouldn't even be talking to us," he added.
"We're talking with Iran right now," Trump said. "We are having good talks. So, we'll see what happens. There is a good chance something can happen."
"If it doesn't, then we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago," he said, without elaborating.
"They would not have requested the meeting if we were doing poorly. The only reason they want to meet is because we've been hitting them very hard," Trump said.
Asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's claim that Russia was sharing satellite intelligence with Iran, Trump said he would seek clarification from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Well, we'll find out about that soon. I'll ask Putin about it. We'll find out," he said.
Asked whether he was on the same page with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Iran, Trump said they were "pretty close" but had "a little difference."
Trump is set to meet Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, an administration official confirmed to Anadolu.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump would discuss "the conflict in Iran, progress with the Trilateral Framework in Lebanon, and expanding the Abraham Accords."
Trump will also hold a separate meeting with Zelenskyy at the White House to discuss the "ongoing peace process between Russia and Ukraine. Now is the time to end the war," the official said.
The United States carried out a series of strikes across Iran in recent days, responding to what it said were Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran then targeted facilities and bases it said were used by the U.S. military in several Gulf countries.
The exchange, which has been on hold for three consecutive days, came despite a Pakistani-brokered framework agreement signed by the United States and Iran in June to end the war that began in February and pave the way for a lasting peace deal.
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