Iran MoD Declares Military 'Fully Prepared' to Confront New Aggression; Rezaei Warns US to Lift Port Blockade — Day 80

Iranian Ministry of Defence spokesperson Reza Talaei-Nik declared on May 18, 2026 (Day 80) that Iran's armed forces are 'fully prepared' to confront any new US or Israeli aggression — an immediate counter-signal to Trump's 'Clock is Ticking' Truth Social ultimatum and the Axios report that the US is considering resuming major strikes. Talaei-Nik's statement mirrors the pattern of Iranian maximum-readiness declarations that have preceded previous escalation cycles in the conflict, including the IRGC's May 13 maximum readiness declaration ahead of the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing. Separately, Mohsen Rezaei, a senior member of the Expediency Council and former IRGC commander, issued a direct warning to the United States: Iran is 'ready for further confrontation' if the US does not lift its maritime blockade of Iranian ports. Rezaei — one of the most hawkish voices in the Iranian system — framed the blockade as a casus belli that Iran would be 'ready to respond to' regardless of ceasefire status. The dual signaling on Day 80 — readiness from the MoD, escalatory warning from Rezaei — reflects Iran's standard deterrence posture: projecting willingness to fight while back-channel talks remain open. The UK announced deployment of drones, fighter aircraft, and a Royal Navy warship to a defensive Hormuz mission, signaling that even US allies are upgrading their defensive postures.