Iran on Monday declared that the strategic Strait of Hormuz “will never return to its former state,” warning the United States and its allies of a new regional security order taking shape in the Persian Gulf.The IRGC Navy, in a statement posted on its official X account, said the era of foreign dominance over the vital maritime corridor was “definitively over,” asserting that trans-regional powers led by the US would no longer be able to dictate terms in Iran’s immediate maritime environment.The force said it was in the final stages of operational preparations for a “comprehensive plan” aimed at establishing what it described as an indigenous security architecture for the Gulf, driven by regional states rather than external actors.“This initiative is based on the principle that the region’s stability and security must be guaranteed by the littoral states themselves, without the presence of outside forces,” the statement said.The announcement comes amid heightened tensions in the waterway, a critical global energy artery through which nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supplies passed before the ongoing conflict. Iranian authorities have recently imposed restrictions on shipping, signalling that passage remains open but subject to limitations on vessels linked to the US, Israel and their allies.The IRGC Navy said its preparations include enhanced naval deployments, advanced surveillance systems and coordinated rapid-response capabilities aimed at securing Iran’s territorial waters and ensuring energy flows through the strait.Iranian military officials warned that any attempt by the US or its partners to challenge what they termed the emerging “new order” or reassert military dominance would invite a “swift and decisive” response.The statement underscores Tehran’s increasingly assertive posture in the Gulf as hostilities with the US and Israel continue, raising concerns over the security of one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.