Iranian Analyst Warns of Imminent Strikes on Gulf States and Shipping as Maritime Tensions Reach Breaking Point

Seyed Mohammad Marandi warns residents to leave the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, claiming the Strait of Hormuz will be the first zone of destruction.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 21, 2026, 12:16 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Channel 12

A Stark Warning to Regional Neighbors

The security landscape in the Persian Gulf has been jolted by a high-profile warning from Seyed Mohammad Marandi, a figure frequently used as an unofficial mouthpiece for Tehran’s strategic interests. Marandi’s statement, released on the social media platform X, urged all foreigners and residents to depart the major Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states immediately. The explicit naming of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait indicates that Iran may be preparing to broaden its operational scope beyond military targets to include vital regional hubs.

Naval Blockade and the Threat to Commercial Shipping

Marandi’s message specifically addressed the maritime sector, advising sailors to prepare to abandon their vessels. He singled out the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for 20% of the world’s oil supply, as the "first to be destroyed." This rhetoric aligns with reports that Iran has effectively restricted the waterway as part of its retaliation against U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that began in late February. The warning to ships in the vicinity suggests that any vessel operating without Iranian authorization may now be considered a legitimate target in the current phase of the war.

Diplomatic Standoff and the Vance Ultimatum

The escalation comes as negotiations between Washington and Tehran have reportedly collapsed. Earlier on Tuesday, Marandi addressed U.S. Vice President JD Vance, stating that "no one in Tehran is willing to negotiate" under the current conditions of a U.S. naval blockade. This diplomatic impasse has been exacerbated by an incident on April 19, where the U.S. military reportedly attacked the Iranian commercial ship 'Toska' near the Sea of Oman. Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the act as "barbaric," warning of "extremely dangerous consequences" for American interests in the region.