IRGC Rear Admiral Sayyari: Any Aggression Will Be Met With Response 'More Forceful Than Before' — Day 93

IRGC Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, deputy army commander for coordination, issued a public warning on May 31, 2026 (Day 93) that 'any aggression against the country's territory will be met with a response even more forceful than before.' The statement came concurrent with Iran's formal publication of mandatory Hormuz navigation regulations and with Trump's 'no hurry' comments on the MoU. Sayyari's threat was interpreted as Iran's response to CENTCOM's May 28–30 enforcement actions — the destruction of IRGC mine-laying vessels on Day 90 and the Hellfire disabling of the M/V Lian Star on Day 92 — and was aimed at warning Washington against further military escalation in the Strait of Hormuz. The threat represented the IRGC's clearest escalation warning since IRGC General Rezaei's May 30 statement that Iran would attack the US blockade if Trump 'betrays negotiations.' The paired warnings from two senior IRGC commanders on consecutive days signaled coordinated deterrence signaling designed to constrain US military action in and around the strait as the June 2–3 Doha round approached.