Tehran, Aug 2026 : Iran’s Army chief Major General Amir Hatami has issued a series of stern warnings to the United States over recent claims concerning the Strait of Hormuz, asserting Tehran’s sovereignty over the strategic waterway and ruling out any return of US military bases to their previous positions.
Speaking at a ceremony honouring Iranian journalists on Sunday, Hatami said the United States no longer had any right or authorisation to enter the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman or the Strait of Hormuz. He warned that any attempt to challenge Iran’s control of the region would face a severe response.
“This is Iran, and it has guardians who will not allow any aggressor to set foot on its territory,” Hatami said, adding that even statements made as a joke would receive what he described as a “crushing response.”
The Iranian Army commander also announced a controversial reward scheme for actions against US military personnel. According to state news agency IRNA, he said anyone who killed, captured or handed over an invading American serviceman would receive a reward equivalent to $30,000, or five billion Iranian tomans.
Hatami further said Iranian women who carried out such actions would receive twice the announced reward. He also said weapons used in such operations would be repurchased at twice their original purchase price and replaced with new weapons.
The Army chief said the initiative had been formulated following what he described as a large number of requests for financial support. However, he did not provide details about where or when any US personnel could be targeted.
There has been no known deployment of US ground forces inside Iran during the recent Middle East conflict, apart from a rescue mission conducted in April involving a downed American pilot.
Hatami also described the Strait of Hormuz as a “God-given geopolitical asset” and one of Iran’s key strategic levers for bringing conflict and tensions to an end. He said Tehran would defend the waterway with all its strength and in accordance with the orders of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
According to Hatami, exercising control over the strategic passage was among the consequences of the recent conflict and was essential to removing what he called the shadow of war over the Iranian people.
The latest statements come amid continuing tensions between Tehran and Washington following the outbreak of war on February 28, when the United States, alongside Israel, launched attacks against Iran. The fighting continued for nearly 40 days before an April ceasefire, followed by a framework for peace negotiations in June that subsequently collapsed.
Since then, Iran and the United States have continued to exchange fire intermittently, with much of the reported confrontation centred on southern Iran and areas surrounding the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Hatami’s remarks underline Tehran’s determination to retain control over the waterway, through which a significant share of global energy supplies passes, while signalling that any renewed US military presence in the region could sharply escalate tensions.
