Iran's Supreme Leader Vows IRGC Navy Will Inflict 'New Defeats' on US and Israel

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a statement on April 19 declaring the IRGC navy was 'ready to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats,' pledging the naval forces would inflict 'new defeats' on the US and Israel in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf. The statement came hours before Trump's escalatory infrastructure ultimatum and coincided with Islamabad security preparations — Pakistani authorities closed roads and set up checkpoints around the Marriott and Serena hotels in advance of the US delegation's arrival. The statement was released while the IRGC Navy was actively enforcing the Hormuz closure by firing on Indian-flagged tankers.