Iran’s Guards warn of assault on U.S. bases as Washington awaits Tehran reply

Saturday, May 9, 2026Developing

Politics Desk

What we know

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy on Saturday warned that any further attack on Iranian oil tankers or commercial vessels would be met with a "heavy assault" on a U.S. base in the region and enemy ships, AP, PBS, AFP and Al Monitor reported, even as a tenuous U.S.-Iran ceasefire appeared to hold.

The warning came a day after U.S. forces disabled two Iranian-flagged tankers that Washington said were breaching its blockade of Iranian ports. President Donald Trump had said he expected Tehran's answer to Washington's latest proposal — reopen the Strait of Hormuz and roll back Iran's nuclear program — "supposedly tonight," but Pakistani mediators had not publicly delivered a reply by Saturday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the U.S. of a "reckless military adventure," BBC reported, while CENTCOM said it had turned back dozens of commercial ships since the April blockade began.

What's confirmed

AP/PBS: IRGC navy warned of a "heavy assault" on a U.S. base and enemy ships if Iranian tankers or commercial vessels are attacked again; ceasefire still described as holding (AP, PBS).
AFP (Straits Times / Al Monitor): Same IRGC warning; Trump still awaiting Tehran's response via Pakistani mediators; no public reply Saturday (AFP).
BBC: Araghchi on May 9 accused the U.S. of opting for a "reckless military adventure" after Friday's tanker strikes and Hormuz exchanges (BBC).
AP: CENTCOM said Saturday it had turned back 58 commercial ships and "disabled" four since the blockade began April 13; Britain said HMS Dragon would preposition for a Hormuz escort mission after hostilities ease (AP).
AFP: Rubio met Qatar's leadership Saturday on Middle East coordination as mediators kept working "day and night" (AFP/State Department readout).

What's still developing

Whether Iran delivers a formal response to the U.S. proposal before Sunday.
Whether either side treats further tanker or base incidents as ending the ceasefire.
Scope of any U.K./French-led Hormuz escort mission once a durable truce is in place.

Sources

AP — Iran warns the US against attacks on its oil tankers and other ships but ceasefire appears to hold link
PBS — Fragile Iran ceasefire appears to hold as Iran warns the U.S. against attacks on its oil tankers link
AFP — Iran’s Guards threaten US sites as Trump waits for Tehran response link
Al Monitor — Iran's Guards threaten US Mideast sites as Trump awaits Tehran response (AFP) link
BBC — Iran accuses US of 'reckless military adventure' link
Boston Globe — Iran cease-fire appears to hold as US awaits response to peace deal (AP) link