IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi pledged that Iran will first secure payment from a potential deal, then move to seize the Bab al-Mandeb strait — mirroring the earlier takeover of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement carried by Iranian media.
IRGC Commander Ahmad Vahidi explicitly outlined a two-stage strategy for Iran's maritime expansion, stating the regime would first collect payment from a prospective deal — presumably a nuclear or sanctions-relief agreement with the West — and then seize the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a strategic chokepoint off Yemen connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Vahidi drew a direct parallel to the earlier Iranian takeover of the Strait of Hormuz, signaling that the same playbook would be applied to the southern gateway. The statement, published via Iranian media channels late Monday, does not name a specific agreement, but the framing echoes the IRGC's longstanding doctrine of leveraging negotiations to extract economic benefits while preserving military leverage. As The Zioneer reported on June 10, Vahidi previously issued an ultimatum to the Trump administration demanding immediate cash payment as a prerequisite for any nuclear deal. The new remarks escalate that posture by making clear the regime sees any upfront payment as funding for further strategic expansion, not as part of a genuine settlement. The Bab al-Mandeb strait is a critical maritime artery for global oil and trade; any Iranian attempt to assert control there would directly threaten Israeli and Western naval interests and shipping, and potentially draw a military response from the US or its allies. No independent confirmation of Vahidi's statement beyond the Iranian media outlets that carried it is available at this stage; the remarks are reported here as an attributed threat rather than as an imminent operational development.
- StrongIRGC commander gives Trump ultimatum: no cash, no nuclear deal
- DevelopingIRGC Navy commander threatens to attack hostile warships in Strait of Hormuz
- ConfirmedIRGC threatens imminent retaliation after US strikes near Strait of Hormuz
- StrongIranian chief of staff claims full control of Strait of Hormuz, threatens shipping
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
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